Kodam Jaya joins the hunt for begal in Jakarta, deploying a combat battalion

Jakarta — The Indonesian National Armed Forces, through Kodam Jaya, have joined the pursuit of begal that are prevalent in Jakarta and its environs. The Head of Public Affairs for Kodam Jaya, Lieutenant Colonel Arh. Noor Iskak, said they had deployed a number of personnel, including from the combat battalion, to support joint patrols with police authorities. ‘We have already conducted joint patrols from the lowest level upwards. In addition to the territorial units of Koramil, we have involved the Kodim, as well as combat battalion units,’ Iskak said at a press conference at the Metro Jaya Regional Police Headquarters on Friday, 22 May 2026. He said the security of a given area is a joint responsibility of the police and the TNI. ‘Thus the presence of security personnel among the community is hoped to provide a sense of safety and to demonstrate the state’s presence in protecting the people,’ he added. Meanwhile, in terms of law enforcement, the police retain full authority. Over the past three weeks, 173 street-crime suspects have been arrested. Some suspects were shot in the leg after resisting or attempting to flee during arrest. ‘Naturally, the firm and measured actions we take are based on considerations of public safety and the safety of our officers on the ground,’ said Metro Jaya Police Dirreskrimum, Comb. Pol Iman Imanuddin, at the same press conference. Previously, the Metro Jaya Directorate of General Criminal Investigation created the Begal Hunting Team, which will patrol 24 hours a day. The Begal Hunting Team is armed in the line of duty. ‘We have also prepared the Begal Hunting Team that is ready to act 24 hours a day to help keep Jakarta safer,’ said Dirreskrimum Comb. Pol Iman Imanuddin at a press conference at the Metro Jaya Police Headquarters on Friday, 15 May 2026. Iman said the team would be deployed to crime-prone points in the surrounding areas, including Depok, Bekasi, and Tangerang. ‘We are deploying it at various points that are quite prone to crime,’ he added. In addition to the patrol teams, police are also working with social media activists to follow up on crimes that occur and are documented.