High-crime routes under snipers guard
Nana Rukmana and Agus Maryono, The Jakarta Post, Cirebon/Banyumas
At least 15,000 policemen including snipers will be guarding the northern coastal routes of West Java and Central Java to anticipate a surge of criminal threats particularly on the days approaching Idul Fitri, Christmas and New Year's holidays.
West Java provincial police chief Insp. Gen. Dadang Garnida told The Jakarta Post in Cirebon on Thursday that the move, also meant to deal with any threat of terrorism, would cover the routes linking Cikampek, Subang, Indramayu and Cirebon.
The snipers will operate in plain clothes and have the authority to seize criminal and terrorist suspects, with the support of the Police's mobile brigade, anti-bomb squads and anti-bandit units.
In Semarang, Central Java Police Chief Insp. Gen. Didi Widayadi also announced the same measures to cope with the rush during post-fasting holidays and safeguard the distribution of basic necessities against robbery.
"A team of snipers has been formed to protect food distribution and chase criminal suspects on vulnerable routes in Central Java," he told Antara in Semarang on Thursday.
The routes to be under police watch will cover the northern coastal highways, mid-territory roads and southern lines. Hundreds of security and public service stations are being erected on these routes, known to be prone to accidents, traffic jams and crime.
Meanwhile, in the beginning of this rainy season 17 spots in Central Java's southern railway routes were found to be susceptible to natural disasters, especially landslides.
Supriyadi, chief spokesman for Operation Zone V of state railway company PT KAI, said in Purwokerto that four of the spots were flood-prone and 13 others vulnerable to landslides and erosion or subsidence.
The lines prone to disasters are the railway tracks of Cipari- Sidareja, Gandrungmangu-Sidareja, Jeruklegi-Kawunganten, Lebeng- Jeruklegi, Gombong-Karanganyar and Wonosari-Kutawinangun.
"The four points prone to floods are the routes of Slawi (Tegal)-Balapulang, Mergasari-Prupuk, Kebasen-Randegan and Kemrajen-Sumpiuh," added Supriyadi.
Four other points that are vulnerable to be affected by landslides are along the routes between Prupuk-Linggapura, Notog- Kebasen, Langgen-Rawakele and Tambak-Ijo. The only area known to be prone to subsidence is located between Kreteg and Patuguran.
The railway stations of Purwokerto, Kroya and Prupuk have prepared freight cars packed with gravel and sand to overcome such unfavorable developments in the wet season.
The railway company's Operation Zone V has also increased its railway engine personnel's work frequency from twice to four times weekly, in anticipation of the rising number of passengers during year-end holidays.