Hoodlums brawl in Cileungsi

BOGOR (JP): A resident of Cileungsi was seriously injured during clashes among local thugs, who have been engaged in sporadic battles since Sunday.

Eyewitnesses said on Tuesday that Iskandar, an employee of a private company in Cileungsi, was beaten by group of thugs in the early hours of Tuesday.

Rasyid, a relative of Iskandar, said he did not know why Iskandar was attacked. "He lost almost all of his teeth and had his jaw broken. He was also stabbed in the head.

"The assailants must have thought Iskandar was a member of a rival gang," said Rasyid.

A local resident, Samsul, said two groups of ticket scalpers were battling to control the bus terminal at the market.

The warring groups are from the Sunda region in West Java and Palembang in South Sumatra, said Samsul.

Rasyid confirmed Iskandar told the attackers he was from Makassar, South Sulawesi. "The assailants asked Iskandar for his ID card to make sure he was not from Palembang. Unfortunately Iskandar left his ID at home."

Local police have yet to gain control of the situation. There have been no arrests in the continued fighting. (21/sur)