JAKARTA, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from the violent protest in Indonesia's eastern Papua province a day earlier rose to 24 on Tuesday with 72 others injured, military spokesman in the province Colonel Eko Daryanto said.
Hundreds of furious protesters on Monday torched down homes and other buildings in Wamena and Waena of the province during the rally sparked by rumors that a high school teacher insulted students with racist words, but the police confirmed the rumors were hoax.
"There is a hike in the number of casualty in Wamena, four other bodies were recovered. While in Waena two other personnel of police mobile brigade unit were wounded," the spokesman told Xinhua via phone from Papua province.
That bring the total numbers of death toll to 24 and the injured to 72, said Eko, adding many of the wounded people havd been rushed to a hospital in Wamena for medical treatment.
The spokesman reaffirmed that one soldier was dead.
Still, he said, local authorities are investing the casualty, combing and checking the government office buildings, shop buildings, and others, which were burned during the protest.
"So there is a possibility that the number of casualty will ratchet up," Eko said.
The spokesman reaffirmed that the situation in the province, particularly in both Wamena and Waena, became more conducive on Tuesday.
Papua and West Papua provinces were stricken by protests which turned to deadly violence in August.
