IT was 5am when a number of cars left the North Sumatra Regional Police Headquarters in Medan. In one car was Regional Police Chief, Insp. Gen. Nurudin Usman. In another car were head of detectives, Sr. Comr. Ronny F. Sompie and public relations officer Comr. Aspan Naninggolan. Tailing the two cars was a bus carrying a number of police officers.

Tuesday three weeks ago, Nurudin and his men headed for Panyabungan, the capital of Mandailing Natal