SAMARINDA, thekabarnews.com—Police have opened an internal inquiry into an officer assigned as an aide to East Kalimantan Governor Rudy Mas’ud following allegations that he intimidated students after a demonstration in Samarinda on Monday, Oct. 19.

East Kalimantan Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Tedy Sopandi said the force was coordinating with its internal affairs division (Propam) and the officer’s home unit to establish what happened.

“The officer is indeed a member of the North Kalimantan Mobile Brigade and is currently undergoing an examination,” Tedy said on Tuesday.

Police have officially identified the officer only by the initials ART. Social media users have circulated a purported full name, but police had not publicly confirmed that identification as of publication.

The inquiry followed the spread of a video showing an encounter between the aide and members of the Samarinda branch of the Indonesian National Student Movement (GMNI).

The students had demonstrated earlier that day to criticize the provincial administration’s handling of forest and land fires (karhutla).

The incident occurred near Nurul Mu’minin Mosque inside the East Kalimantan government complex as students prepared to leave after the rally.

GMNI member Rossa Tri Rahmawati said the group had remained near the mosque while waiting for the Magrib call to prayer. Governor Rudy later arrived with his security detail, prompting students to question why he had not met them during the demonstration.

Rossa said she used her mobile phone to record the governor’s arrival but did not block his path.

“I did not touch anything or point my phone directly at Rudy Mas’ud,” she said.

Video circulated online appeared to show physical contact before her phone fell to the ground. The recording alone does not establish intent, which remains part of the police inquiry.

Another GMNI member, Ridwan, alleged that the aide also made forceful contact with him as tensions increased.

“He approached me and suddenly body-checked me,” Ridwan said.

Tedy said police officers must follow National Police Chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo’s instructions to treat the public respectfully.

“Police must not act arrogantly or lie, and they must uphold justice,” he said. Depending on the examination’s outcome, police could return ART to his original unit. No disciplinary decision had been announced.

The students organized the demonstration as East Kalimantan continued to face extensive forest and land fires. Provincial disaster-management data recorded 2,162 fire incidents covering approximately 8,713 hectares as of Oct. 13. Officials also recorded active incidents in Samarinda and several other districts on Oct. 19.

The East Kalimantan administration has placed the province under emergency alert status for drought, fires and wildfire smoke.

The internal inquiry must now determine whether ART violated police discipline or professional ethics. Until investigators publish their findings, do not treat allegations circulated online as established facts.