200 more people netted in terminal raids

JAKARTA (JP): Police netted 200 more people in their latest raids against suspected drug dealers and other criminals at the city's major bus terminals late Sunday.

A day earlier, city police apprehended a total of 186 people from the same locations in a similar operation. The raids were conducted following last Wednesday's severe clashes at the Kampung Rambutan intercity bus terminal in East Jakarta.

Jakarta Police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis announced on Monday that in the latest raid 200 people were netted separately by teams comprising 500 officers at Kampung Rambutan, Pulogadung and Cililitan bus terminals.

"The people are currently detained at nearby police stations and dossiers are being prepared," officer Lubis said.

"Out of the 200 people arrested, 168 were arrested for not carrying their identification cards during the raids," he said.

"The remaining 32 were apprehended for various violations, including seven women believed to be prostitutes offering their services at the terminals," he added.

"Eight of them were caught carrying sharp weapons without being able to give any 'reasonable' explanation. Six others were arrested for possession of marijuana and Nipam and Rohipnol pills and the remaining 11 for gambling," Lubis said.

In comparison, 10 of the 186 people netted during Saturday's raids were apprehended carrying sharp weapons or marijuana. The rest were detained after failing to show their identification cards.

According to Lubis, police will uphold existing laws by preparing dossiers on all detainees in order to bring them to trial.

"We will charge them in accordance with their violation," he said.

Separately, Jakarta Police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman ordered his subordinates to shoot any criminals who resisted arrest or put officers' safety in danger.

"Either in routine raids or special operations, I've told my subordinates to shoot criminals on sight if they are putting the lives of people or officers in danger," he announced on Monday.

However, Noegroho added that any shooting must follow standard police procedure: two warning shots followed by one aimed at the guilty party's foot or thigh. (emf)