186 people netted in raids at major bus terminals

JAKARTA (JP): The city police netted 186 people in raids at the city's major bus terminals early on Sunday for carrying sharp weapons, possessing drugs and not carrying their identification cards, an officer said.

According to Jakarta Police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis, the operation involved some 500 police officers from various units and took place at, among others, the Pulogadung and Kampung Rambutan bus terminals in East Jakarta. The raids began on Saturday evening and lasted until Sunday morning.

"All of the suspects are now in our custody at city police headquarters," Lubis said.

The Kampung Rambutan terminal was hit by a severe clash last week following a confrontation between a pickpocket and a bus crew.

At least two people were fatally stabbed and a number of cars, handcarts, and food and drink stalls were vandalized and burned during the clash.

Of the 186 people netted during the raids, 10 were arrested for carrying weapons or marijuana, Lubis said.

The rest were arrested for failing to show their identification cards, he said.

"The police have begun to collect personal data from the suspects and are still completing dossiers for their trials," he added.

Lubis did not explain whether the raids at the bus terminals were prompted by Wednesday's clash at Kampung Rambutan, but stated that "the raids were part of the city police's Kilat Jaya (Thunder) operation".

Police officers taking part in the weekend raids included detectives and members of the police's Mobile Brigade, On-Alert and Speedy Reaction units, Lubis said.

He said the main targets of the operation were criminals believed to be operating out of the bus terminals.

Hot spots

City and intercity bus terminals have become favorite locations for criminals, particularly pickpockets and extortionists.

Some bus terminals have witnessed battles among groups of criminals trying to establish their control over the locations.

The Kampung Rambutan clash reportedly escalated into a riot after the pickpocket reported his clash with the bus crew to his colleagues.

On the other side of the clash, the bus crew and many people operating businesses in the bus terminal, including food vendors, could no longer contain their anger with the criminals.

As of Sunday, hundreds of security personnel were still deployed in the bus terminal to prevent any new conflicts.

The weekend raids at the bus terminals, however, raised public doubts because most of those arrested had reportedly already settled their cases out of court.

However, Jakarta Police chief of detectives Col. Alex Bambang Riatmojo insisted on Sunday that all of those arrested in the raids, including those who failed to show their identification cards, would be brought to court.

"They will be charged according to their violations," he said.

Many people also questioned the police operation because many people now carried weapons for self-protection.

Purnianti, a criminologist from the University of Indonesia, said, "People don't want to hear that a man who just bought a knife for his wife and happened to be on his way home was arrested in a bus terminal because he was carrying this weapon."

She suggested that the police be very careful and wise in carrying out their raids if they wanted to avoid protests from those arrested. (emf)