Dukun Banyuwangi

This fear exploded into national hysteria in 1998, during the final chaotic months of Suharto’s New Order regime. Between July and October, dozens of bodies were discovered in Banyuwangi, all bearing the same horrifying signature: a ligature mark on the neck and a hole in the chest. The police quickly identified the perpetrators as a network of dukuns and their followers, led by a figure named Abdul Hamid. According to the official narrative, these dukuns had been contracted to kill victims—often religious teachers or kyai —to harvest their magical power. The stated goal was to acquire a "perfect" black magic that would allow the mastermind, a dukun named Ponari (no relation to the later child-healer), to achieve immortality and wealth. The media frenzy painted a picture of a satanic underworld operating in plain sight, where respected village healers transformed into ritual murderers under the cloak of night.

Banyuwangi , located at the eastern tip of Java, is a place where the mystical and the modern live side by side. Known as the it also carries a deeper, more shadow-filled reputation as the "City of Santet" (Black Magic). dukun banyuwangi

In this region, the is a central figure who wears many masks. They are more than just "shamans"; they are traditional healers, spiritual advisors, and protectors of ancient customs. For many in the local Using community , a dukun is the first person they visit for help with everything from strange illnesses to finding a life partner. This fear exploded into national hysteria in 1998,

The Enigma of Dukun Banyuwangi: Between Mysticism and Cultural Heritage According to the official narrative, these dukuns had