Mistaken identity could be deadly

TANGERANG (JP): A sudden tension melted early Friday when panicky soldiers firing rubber bullets realized that their target was a group of people wanting to present them a thief.

Soldiers at Ramayana Mall in Pondok Aren, which mobs vandalized and looted last Thursday, said they mistook the oncoming crowd of about 50 for a rampaging mob at midnight.

They ceased shooting and frantically running around when one person in the scared crowd ventured forward and told the soldiers they had just caught a thief for them to "take care of".

The lone alleged crook was apprehended cutting off the telephone line at a resident's home.

The angry citizens, still apprehensive about last week's looting and rioting in their neighborhood, stopped beating the thief when one had the bright idea of presenting him to the soldiers.

"Gee, we thought you guys were looters," a relieved soldier sighed. (sur/pan)