Nine students detained for carrying weapons
JAKARTA (JP): Police detained yesterday nine of 72 students involved in a brawl on Monday for carrying sharp weapons in a packed bus on Jl. M.T. Haryono, East Jakarta.
The 63 other students, from a private technical senior high school (STM) in Cawang, East Jakarta, were released, said Chief of the City Police Detectives for General Affairs, Lt.Col. Bakat Purwanto.
The nine students claimed the weapons which were left in the bus, he said.
"We have released the remaining 63 students because they only followed their friends," Bakat said.
Dozens of passengers were terrified and the bus driver, Mangaraja Tobing, was injured because he refused to use a toll road which the students demanded he use. The students ordered the driver to take them to their opponents in front of the Gelael supermarket.
Police arrested 72 of the hundreds of students involved in the brawl near the supermarket on Jl. M.T. Haryono.
The violence started when a gang from the STM Cawang technical senior high school who had commandeered the 50-seat public bus attacked rivals from another STM who were loitering roadside, Bakat said.
He said the students smashed the bus' windows injuring several passengers.
He said police seized three sickles, a sword, a knife, two sharp steel rulers, two belts with cogs in the buckles and steel bars. The weapons were left on the bus.
Bakat said the sword was claimed by Teguh H., 19, a third grade student from Bogor.
He said Zulfikar, 18, a second grade student, of Karet, South Jakarta, claimed the knife.
Budi Prasetio, 15, a first grade student from South Jakarta and Jatmiko, 19, a third grade student from Tangerang owned the belts.
He said the sickles belonged to Mohammad Raya, 19, a third grade student, Agung Prianto, 16, and Indra Guna, 15, first grade students from South Jakarta.
Third grade students Ade Supriatna and Faisal, both 19 and from South Jakarta, claimed the rulers, Bakat said.
Bakat said police would question witnesses, including the bus driver, his assistance, and passengers injured.
The City Military Commander Maj. Gen. Suuiyoso said Tuesday the students would be enrolled in a military school for troublesome students.
City Police Chief Hamami asked East Jakarta Police Chief, Lt. Col. Nanan Sukarna, to set up the Pelajar Siaga student alert program in his precinct.
"The program works well in the South Jakarta Police Precinct," he said.
The city authorities have been concerned with the number of student brawls for years. Last year at least 15 students were killed in street clashes. (jun)