Military to clamp down on poison-arrow gangs

Military to clamp down on poison-arrow gangs

MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): Bukit Barisan Military chief Maj. Gen. Arie J. Kumaat has ordered his troopers to clamp down on criminal gangs which use poison arrows to knock out their victims.

Kumaat, whose jurisdiction covers the northern part of Sumatra, said yesterday the practice is widely used by gangs operating around the Polonia district, home to Medan's airport as well, Antara reported.

"I've ordered the chief of the district military command to work together with the police to enhance the security and order in the Polonia area," he told reporters yesterday after attending the induction ceremony of the new Medan Police Chief.

He said his troopers have arrested a number of criminals using poison arrows, many of which are gang members.

National Police Chief Gen. Banurusman Astrosemitro, in his speech at the induction ceremony, said North Sumatra has the fourth highest crime rate in Indonesia, after Jakarta, Central Java and East Java.

Banurusman installed Col. Nana S. Permana, formerly chief of West Sumatra Police, as the new North Sumatra Police chief to replace Brig. Gen. Roesmanhadi, who will move to become chief of East Java Police.

To the new chief, Banurusman said a more innovative approach is needed to contain and reduce the crime rate in the province.

Police should be wise but firm, and respect the law and people's rights, he said.

He also stressed the need for greater coordination among the various agencies each time police conduct a new operation.

Kumaat said that given the strong character of the North Sumatran people, the police should minimize the level of force used to contain these novel criminal acts. "If you use force on the North Sumatran people, they'll get even more violent," he quipped. (emb)