Angry Bogor residents destroy Merdeka kiosks

BOGOR (JP): Angry residents allegedly from Kebon Kopi subdistrict in Central Bogor attacked and destroyed kiosks near Merdeka shopping mall belonging to vendors from the Batak ethnic group on Friday in the effort to find those who had allegedly assaulted a Kebon Kopi residents.

This fracas caused congestion in the busy area, with many public transportation vehicles refusing to pass by the Merdeka shopping mall.

Central Bogor Police chief Adj. Comr. Uba Subandi said his force had cordoned off the scene and asked those involved to calm down.

"We will find the culprits who assaulted Ronny," he said, adding that the assailants attacked Ronny because he had frequently caught them red-handed while breaking and stealing coins from public phones near the Merdeka terminal and mall.

The 17-year-old Ronny, or Kinoy, suffered severe injuries to the back of his head.

His uncle Fikri said that Ronny was on his way to a store when the men stopped him. "And without further ado, they hit him on the back of the head with a bottle," he said. (21/bby)