The tragedy on Saturday night in the city of Malang saw a total of 125 people killed and 323 others injured after officers fired tear gas in a packed stadium to quell a pitch invasion, triggering a stampede.

Dozens of children caught in the chaos lost their lives, an official at the women's empowerment and child protection ministry told AFP.

"From the latest data we received, out of 125 people who died in the accident, 32 of them were children, with the youngest being a toddler age three or four," said Nahar, who like many Indonesians goes by only one name.

As anger mounted against police, Indonesia's chief security minister Mahfud MD announced a task force had been formed to investigate and called for those responsible to be punished.

"We asked (police) to unveil who has perpetrated the crimes and take action against them and we also hope the national police will evaluate their security procedures," he said in a broadcast statement.

The police force sacked its local chief in Malang within hours of the minister's speech.

East Java police also suspended nine officers on the instruction of the national police force, national police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo told a press conference, without providing details about their role in the tragedy.

With police and sports officials on their way to Malang to investigate, Indonesia's National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) levelled criticism at officers.

"If there was no tear gas, maybe there wouldn't have been chaos," commissioner Choirul Anam told a briefing

We want accountability' -

Saturday's incident unfolded when fans of home team Arema FC stormed the pitch at the Kanjuruhan stadium after their loss 3-2 to bitter rivals Persebaya Surabaya.

Police responded by launching tear gas into packed terraces, prompting spectators to rush en masse to small gates where many were trampled or suffocated, according to witnesses.

"It felt like people were packed into a small tube with a tiny hole, and then they were smoked," said 29-year-old spectator Ahmad Rizal Habibi, who escaped before the crush.

Police described the incident as a riot and said two officers were killed, but survivors accuse them of overreacting and causing the deaths of scores of spectators.

"One of our messages is for the authorities to investigate this thoroughly. And we want accountability. Who is to blame?" said 25-year-old Malang resident Andika, who declined to give his last name.

"We want justice for our fallen supporters."

One witness outside the stadium said police refused to help when the crush happened.

"The place looked like a mass cemetery. Women and children were piling on top of one another," Eko Prianto, 39, told AFP.

"I ran to the police or soldier to help. There were no medics in sight. The police did not help and the soldier threatened to beat me."

They will ever fight again. If they catch anyone that want to start the fight, they will beat hell out of him.

Police chief sacked but on Nigeria here na tribalism game from the president to the IGP. We since apologize to this situation on ground, Gbam!!! That's the end of everything. No strict policy.