Mob kills alleged thieves

MEDAN, North Sumatra: A mob beat two alleged thieves to death and injured another early on Monday in Tanjung Rejo village in Deli Serdang regency, some 40 kilometers south of here.

One of the deceased was identified as Prayitno, 55, while the man wounded in the attack was identified as Suheri, 26. The other casualty has not yet been identified.

The three men were caught stealing a black-and-white television set and a tape recorder from a resident of Jl. Pembangunan Pasar IV. A crowd chased down the alleged thieves and beat two of them to death in a rice field. Suheri is in critical condition in a local hospital.

According to residents, the incidence of robbery is on the rise in the village.

Separately in the neighboring village of Lama, a group of residents beat a member of the marines, Chief Sgt. Sugeng Muliono, and set his car on fire based on suspicions that he was a member of a gang of robbers. Sugeng was seen driving around the village at dawn on Monday, causing fear among the residents.

Police arrived on the scene and rescued Sugeng from the mob. (39)