Hoodlum stabbed to death

JAKARTA (JP): A notorious hoodlum from Kramat Jati in East Jakarta was found dead with severe stab wounds near the local market on Tuesday.

Police believe that Maskur, 28, was fatally attacked by rival thugs in the area.

According to city police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang, Maskur had suffered stab wounds in the neck, chest and back which were up to 20 centimeters in depth.

"Police found a sickle and a dagger under the victim's belt," Aritonang said, adding that the weapons were believed to have belonged to Maskur.

"The weapons were clean, meaning that neither was used in the stabbing," the officer explained.

Maskur's body was found at around 7 a.m. when a market trader went to check his merchandise in a nearby storehouse. The victim resided in the market compound

Aritonang said: "Judging from the victim's weapons, neither of which had been drawn, we suspect the victim and his killers must have known each other." (emf)