BALINEWSID.COM, TABANAN– Amid a crowd of mourners, a young girl repeatedly called out for her father, who would never answer her again. Her cries broke through the silence beside her father’s body as those around her tried to comfort her.

A short video of the heartbreaking moment has gone viral on social media, becoming one of the most poignant images to emerge from the death of KD, a man from Sidatapa Village, Buleleng, who died after allegedly being beaten by a mob over accusations that he had stolen a fighting rooster in Baturiti, Tabanan.

Behind the reports of an alleged theft and a violent assault lies a family now forced to live without a father.

KD is survived by his wife and three children. His eldest child is married, his second child is a first-year high school student, while his youngest daughter is in the first grade of elementary school.

Sidatapa Village Head I Made Sutama said he was among those who went to retrieve KD’s body and bring it back to the family home. However, the moment that stayed with him the most was not the process of collecting the body, but seeing the victim’s children crying in front of their father’s remains.

“I was the one who went to retrieve his body. When we arrived at the house and I saw his children crying uncontrollably, I was deeply saddened,” Sutama said on Saturday (July 25, 2026).

He stressed that regardless of any alleged wrongdoing, every case must be handled through legal channels.

“If someone is indeed guilty, report them to the authorities. Do not take the law into your own hands to the point of taking someone’s life, all over something like the alleged theft of a chicken,” he said.

Sutama emphasized that Indonesia is a country governed by the rule of law, and any alleged criminal offense must be handled by the proper authorities rather than decided by the anger of a mob.

“Our country is governed by law. Let the authorities handle these matters. We must not allow people to kill one another over an incident like this,” he said.

Meanwhile, the victim’s family has accepted the incident as a tragedy and has left the legal process entirely in the hands of the police.

Earlier, KD died after allegedly being assaulted by local residents in Banjar Dinas Juwuk Legi, Batunya Village, Baturiti District, Tabanan. In addition to the fatal assault, the motorcycle he was riding was reportedly set on fire by the mob.

Police have questioned several witnesses and said the investigation is still ongoing to uncover the full sequence of events, including any alleged criminal acts committed during the assault.

For many people, the case may have begun with an alleged theft involving a fighting rooster. But for a young child who must now grow up without her father, the incident will forever be remembered as the day her family changed forever.