Four robbers shot dead in Bekasi

JAKARTA (JP): Four suspected robbers were shot dead when trying to escape from police on Jl. Tegal Gede, Lemah Abang, Bekasi on Thursday.

Police said they had been under observation for months since they were suspected of holding up trucks in Cibitung, Bekasi and Cikampek, east of here.

The suspects, identified as Robi Iswandi, 33; S.J. Dolim, 39; Wagiman, 41; and Udin Waisin, 42, were all riding in one Kijang van.

A police patrol passing along the road at 2 a.m. became suspicious as they were constantly being preceded by a van. The police then ordered the van to pull over.

Instead the van sped away but the police managed to catch up with it and forced the passengers to get out.

They all tried to flee, police said, but two were immediately shot dead. The other two headed towards nearby bushes. The police fired warning shots which were ignored by the suspects. The police then fatally wounded them also. The four bodies were later sent to the morgue of Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital in Central Jakarta.

The Bekasi police said they seized two sickles, one knife and homemade guns from the van. (07)