Man queried over slashing

Man queried over slashing

JAKARTA (JP): The city police would thoroughly question
businessman Johny for allegedly slashing Prayitno -- both are
residents of Jl. Duri Utara II in West Jakarta -- with a sword in
a quarrel which then led to a bigger clash.

City police spokesman Lt. Col. Edward Aritonang said on
Tuesday that the incident which occurred on late Monday was
sparked by a trivial misunderstanding between Johny and other
residents.

"Johny is now under city police custody and we'll question him
thoroughly," he said.

As was earlier reported, the incident began at around 4:30
p.m., when local youths hit Johny's Suzuki Carry minibus parked
in front of his house with a ball they were playing with.

Johny came out of his house angrily brandishing a samurai
sword in his hand.

After a short quarrel, Johny chased the youths and wounded 18-
year-old Prayitno in his upper abdomen before he ran off and hid
inside his house.

Residents got angry and surrounded Johny's house, asking for
him to take responsibility.

"Somebody started shouting, 'Damage his car,' then people
pelted stones and any hard objects at the car," a local said.

After damaging Johny's car, residents of the neighborhood,
attacked his house but later turned on security personnel who
were deployed to calm the incensed crowd as two armored vehicles
suddenly stopped in front of Johny's house to evacuate him.

Besides Johny's car, windows of two military trucks and one
patrol police car were also damaged by angry residents.

However, the clash eased off after elderly residents asked the
youths to stop.

Elderly residents believed that those who provoked the attacks
were not from their neighborhood and therefore they were staying
on the alert to prevent further clashes. (emf)