Junaidi Marpaung's house, a journalist for one of the online media in Labuhanbatu Regency, North Sumatra (Sumut) on Jalan Aekmatio Talsim Gang Damai, Rantau Utara District, was allegedly burned by unknown people or OTK on Thursday morning, March 21, 2024.

Before the incident, he claimed to have received threats on social media after conducting investigative coverage of drug trafficking in four different places in Labuhanbatu for two days March 16, 2024 and March 17, 2024. He kept evidence of threats from one Facebook user by including a photo of Junaidi.

"I did journalistic work for two days by trying to uncover drug trafficking and fuel smuggling in Labuhanbatu. I visited two places in South Rantau Subdistrict, precisely in an area called Kandang Lembu and witnessed up close the drug transactions in the stalls prepared by drug dealers there." Junaidi told Tempo, Friday, March 22, 2024.

Junaidi added that the two drug trafficking stalls in Labuhanbatu are backed by strong people who also manage fuel oil smuggling.

Information on drug trafficking in Labuhanbatu, said Junaidi, he obtained from residents. To prove this, Junaidi invited one of his colleagues to conduct investigations in four locations.

"Two locations in South Rantau District and two more locations in the capital of Labuhanbatu, Rantauprapat. We will make the rampant drug stalls in Labuhanbatu the topic of investigative coverage in the media www.utamanews.com. However, my house and car were burned last night at around 00.45 WIB before our drug trafficking investigation report was released," said Junaidi.

Chairman of the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) North Sumatra Farianda Sinik said, PWI prepared legal steps for the protection of the safety of Junaidi's life and his family until the investigation and investigation of the burning of Junaidi's house and car was handled by the police.

"Junaidi is a PWI member in Labuhanbatu and he experienced violence and intimidation as a result of the coverage of the disclosure of drug trafficking and illegal fuel. Therefore, I conveyed this incident to the North Sumatra Police Chief and the police have followed up by sending Forensic Laboratory personnel from the North Sumatra Police," said Farianda Sinik.

Head of Public Relations of the North Sumatra Police Commissioner Hadi Wahyudi said the Forensic Laboratory Team (Labfor) was conducting crime scene processing at Junaidi Marpaung's residence. "The Labfor team is conducting crime scene investigations as well as collecting formal and material evidence as material for the investigation into the fire at the journalist's house in Labuhanbatu," said Hadi Wahyudi.

According to Hadi, the results of the crime scene will be a clue for investigators to find out whether there was a deliberate burning of Junaidi's house and car. The crime scene, said Hadi, was carried out by North Sumatra Police personnel together with Labuhanbatu Police to investigate where the initial fire spread to. From the crime scene, continued Hadi, investigators will find out whether there is an element of intent or not in the incident before naming a suspect.