Mistaken identity could be deadly

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)