Guard shoots job applicant

BEKASI (JP): A job applicant was severely injured after being shot in the leg by a security guard during a commotion on a factory compound, where thousands of people had come to apply for jobs offered by the factory.

The incident took place on Tuesday when thousands of job applicants converged on the PT Pelangi Indah compound in Cibitung, Bekasi.

They flocked to the factory after reading an announcement, put up on a small board in front of the factory, that the company had job vacancies.

The situation got out of hand when they hustled, jostled and pushed each other to hand over their application forms. In the ensuing pandemonium, a security guard, identified as Sarwono, tried to control the situation by announcing that everybody would be served.

But his plea appeared to fall on deaf ears on the part of the job applicants. The guard, who is, reportedly, an armed forces member, then took out his gun and shot at the crowd.

The bullet hit Maman Bongkin in his right leg. The gunshot panicked the job applicants, sending them running for shelter, leaving Maman sprawled on the ground, bleeding. Maman was rushed immediately to the Bakti Husada hospital and was still being treated there as of yesterday.

Bekasi police said Sarwono is being detained. The Colt 38 pistol is being held as evidence. (12/bas)