Bayonet-armed gang attacks vegetable vendors<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A group of vegetable vendors at Kebayoran Lama
\nmarket in South Jakarta were attacked by about 20 bayonet-armed
\nmen wearing Navy uniforms in the wee hours of yesterday morning,
\npolice said.<\/p>\n
At least two vendors were severely injured during the
\nonslaught.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Military Police chief Col. Hendardji told The Jakarta
\nPost last night that all of the attackers were Navy personnel
\nfrom the Navy Staff and Command School (Seskoal) in Cipulir,
\nSouth Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"So far, only one of the suspected attackers has been
\ndetained,\" Hendardji said, refusing to identify the man.<\/p>\n
He said he had ordered his men to pick up all of the suspects
\ntoday for further questioning at the Jakarta Military Police
\nheadquarters.<\/p>\n
\"If any of the injured vendors passes away, we'll directly
\ndetain all the Navy personnel involved in the attack,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Quoting the vendors, the head of South Jakarta Police
\nDetective Unit, Maj. Rycko Almeza Daniel, said the midnight
\nincident started suddenly when a group of men in Navy uniform
\njumped out of a truck with Navy markings and attacked the
\ntraders.<\/p>\n
\"Witnesses said their were about 20 attackers wearing uniforms
\nand wielding bayonets. They damaged goods and attacked the
\nvendors,\" Rycko said.<\/p>\n
The two injured traders, stabbed by the angry men, were
\nidentified as Pujingan, 27, and M. Rochim, 21.<\/p>\n
\"Apparently Pujingan was eating some noodles and Rochim was
\nstanding near a phone booth when the attackers started beating
\nand stabbing them,\" Rycko added.<\/p>\n
Pujingan suffered a stab wound to the back and his lungs were
\npunctured, while Rochim was injured in the head by a bayonet.<\/p>\n
Both men were brought to Pertamina Hospital at Blok M, South
\nJakarta. Pujingan was transferred later yesterday afternoon to
\nthe intensive care unit at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Central
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
The incident was reported to the Jakarta Garrison and Military
\nPolice a few hours later.<\/p>\n
\"I handed over the files to the military police today for them
\nto carry out a further investigation because the case obviously
\ninvolved members of the military academy,\" he explained.<\/p>\n
Drunken officer<\/p>\n
The incident is believed to have been motivated by reports
\nthat a Navy officer was beaten by vendors at the market.<\/p>\n
\"Reports said that the vendors did not actually know that the
\ndrunk man was a military officer. Witnesses said the man was
\nblindly disrupting the market by overturning tables and kicking
\nat goods.<\/p>\n
\"Angry vendors beat him into unconsciousness, and later
\nchecked his wallet for his identity. That's when they realized
\nthat the victim was an officer,\" Rycko explained.<\/p>\n
Rycko, however, refused to provide details about the officer,
\nwho was taken to the Kebayoran Lama Police office for treatment.<\/p>\n
\"We're still gathering information about the case.<\/p>\n
\"But frankly, the police cannot do much because it's obvious
\nthat the suspects are military personnel.<\/p>\n
\"The police's job was to secure the crime scene, cross-check
\nwitnesses and help the victims. We cannot arrest other members of
\nthe military. The case is the jurisdiction of the military
\npolice,\" Rycko explained. (edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bayonet-armed-gang-attacks-vegetable-vendors-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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