REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PEKABNARU -- Riau police have so far named 116 people as suspects in forest and plantation fires in the province located on Sumatra Island.

They were allegedly involved in 70 cases being handled by the local police throughout Riau province, Adjunct Senior Commissioner Guntur Aryo Teji stated here on Monday.

In line with the instructions of the president and the national police chief, the Riau police have carried out the duty of investigating the forest fire and illegal logging cases seriously, he pointed out.

"We are not playing around in handling the cases. Everyone involved will be punished," he promised.