Jakarta, July 25 -- Chief of the National Police ( Polri ), General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, on Thursday announced the arrest of 46 persons suspected to be involved in forest and land fire incidents in Riau province.

"Based on the Riau police chief's reports, 46 suspects have been taken into police custody," General Prabowo said in a press statement received from the National Police in Jakarta.

Police are currently investigating whether the wildfires that ravaged 280 hectares of land in Riau were set off deliberately, he informed.

According to General Prabowo, the forest and land fire task force is continuing efforts to tackle potential wildfire hotspots in Riau.

Water bombing and weather modification operations are also being conducted ...