Hijackers shot in Cirebon

CIREBON, West Java: Cirebon Police shot three men caught red- handedly hijacking a truck transporting gravel in Kertasura village, Kepetakan district, Cirebon, at 3:30 a.m. on Thursday.

Adj. Sr. Comr. Musyafak, chief of the Cirebon Police, admitted that his men had shot the three, identified as Nunung alias Asep (30), Casadi alias Bodrek (37) and Caso Markumin (30), all from Suranenggala Lor village, Cirebon.

Musyafak said the officers, who were patrolling in the area at the time, saw the three attempting to hijack the Jakarta-bound truck. The gang members broke the truck windshield with a sword, and ordered the driver to stop some five kilometers away from the city of Cirebon.

The officers were suspicious upon seeing the truck zig-zagging at high speed with three people holding swords riding on the back of it.

The officers gave chase, and then fired warning shots, Musyafak said. Knowing that the police were following the truck, the driver stopped before the officers shot the hijackers, he added. One of the hijackers is still in critical condition in Gunung Jati Hospital, Cirebon."--JP