Group in military garb storms police post, injures six

JAKARTA (JP): A group of some 30 men in military uniforms attacked on Thursday a traffic police post in Johar, Karawang, 45 kilometers east of here, and beat five of six on-duty officers and vandalized six motorbikes, a local police source said.

The men -- most riding motorcycles -- later attacked Chief Sgt. Maj. Budiantara of the Tanjung Pura Police and took his gun and cellular phone, the officer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told The Jakarta Post by phone.

None of the officers could be reached for comment but the police source said the men ran amok after one of their colleagues, Chief Sgt. Atang of the Pedes Military Subdistrict Command, was detained by local police after questioning overnight.

Atang, the officer said, was a witness in an attempted automobile theft.

"Atang was actually handed over to the Karawang Military Police," he said on further explanation.

On Wednesday evening, about 200 angry locals from Pedes district, 20 kilometers from Karawang, attacked the local police post after hearing a rumor that Atang was tortured during police questioning.

The mob injured at least four police officers, the source said.

The attack on Thursday started at about 10 a.m.

"When the group of men, who were cruising on motorcycles around town and honking their horns, passed the Johar post, they assaulted the five traffic policemen and wrecked six motorbikes parked nearby," the officer said.

Four of the officers suffered minor injuries, while Sgt. Maj. Burhanuddin was admitted to Karawang Hospital for multiple wounds.

The group of 30 men continued to Karawang Police Headquarters, the officer said.

"Officers who witnessed the fray at the Johar post sped to the station to warn about a possible attack.

"Things got hot as we eventually drove them away," the officer said.

"We managed to grab one of them during the incident, but we let him go and told him to tell his friends to back off and end the dispute.

"Actually, we know all of them well as we serve in the same district," the detective said.

The men retreated but drove to nearby Tanjung Pura Police post, where they assaulted officer Budiantara, he said.

"Some of the troops first shouted 'thief, thief' and about 15 soldiers then mobbed Sgt. Budiantara, while onlookers could only watch without doing anything," the officer said.

Budiantara was also admitted to Karawang General Hospital.

Local authorities later met and settled their differences at about noon on Thursday, he said.

"The Karawang Military District chief also has officially returned the gun back to the police," he said.

During the incident on Wednesday, people initially wanted the police to hand Atang over to them because they believed that the sergeant had done nothing wrong, he said.

"Atang told the locals after questioning that he was treated well at the Pedes Police post and he acknowledged his wrongdoing as he had purchased a stolen motorbike," the officer said.

But not long after Atang was released, rumors circulated that he was tortured at the post.

"Mobs than attacked the post, leaving four officers injured," the detective said.

He identified the wounded police officers as Second Sgt. Luki Esa, Second Sgt. Dadang Romansyah, Second Sgt. Susanto and Second Sgt. Asep Dedi.

The detective said the men "did not know that the police were only questioning and not detaining" Atang, and that he had been handed over to the military district command in Karawang.

Police believe that members of an automobile theft ring incited hundreds of locals to attack the Pedes Police post.

Atang is reportedly believed to have been a noted fence for goods stolen by local thieves.

The police source, however, said Atang's associates had provoked colleagues into believing the police had wrongfully detained Atang. (edt)