Four die during 'Takbiran' parades
Four die during 'Takbiran' parades
JAKARTA (JP): Four people died and two others were injured in
traffic accidents during unofficial street parades marking the
Takbiran prayer celebration Thursday night.
Two of the dead, identified as Zainuddin and Muftadi, were
killed in a traffic accident in Cakung, East Jakarta. Another
victim, Fahmi, died when his motorcycle crashed in Kebayoran
Baru, South Jakarta.
Their bodies were sent to Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital
in Central Jakarta for autopsies.
Nana Maulana, 30, died after falling from a speeding Metromini
bus crowded with people. Reports said she was believed to have
died instantly.
Her body was taken to Sumber Waras Hospital in West Jakarta.
Thousands of city residents, most of them youths, flocked the
streets Thursday night in cars, motorcycles and trucks. They beat
traditional bedug drums and chanted praise to Allah to mark the
end of the Ramadhan fasting month.
Parades caused traffic jams in several areas, particularly
streets around the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta
where President Soeharto led an official ceremony.
The emergency unit at Fatmawati Hospital, South Jakarta, had
admitted two patients who sustained injuries in parades by 2 a.m.
Friday morning.
Sri Rahayu, 47, was involved in a car crash as she watched
parades near her house at the Bea Cukai housing complex near Jl.
Fatmawati.
Purnanini, 32, fell from a motorcycle during a parade.
Many youths in the parades lit firecrackers, and some of them
threw them at people in other vehicles.
Although the authorities have banned the possession and use of
firecrackers, City Police chief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata said late
Thursday that his personnel had not made any arrests involving
fireworks.
"We only warned them and asked them to stop playing with the
firecrackers," he said. No arrests were made. Our security
operation emphasized more the humanity side, not tough measures.
After all, it's the holiday season."
About 14,000 police officers were deployed in an operation
code-named Ketupat to safeguard Idul Fitri festivities throughout
the greater Jakarta area. (edt/emf)