Officers to be posted at street junctions

Officers to be posted at street junctions

JAKARTA (JP): City police pledged on Thursday to intensify
security by posting more plainclothes police officers at busy
street junctions and residential complexes in a bid to stem the
rising tide of crime in the capital.

"We will not hesitate to take stern action against criminals
to protect the public. Criminals are getting fiercer, so if
necessary we'll shoot them to death," the city's chief detective,
Col. Gories Mere said here on Thursday.

"We will attempt to respond and to protect the public. We are
all aware that there has been an increase in the incidence of
armed robberies on public transport vehicles and in residential
complexes and streets," Gories told a media conference.

City police spokesman Lt. Col. Edward Aritonang and senior
police officer Lt. Col. Dikdik Muliana also attended the media
conference.

City police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman shared Gories'
view, saying that rising crime had left Jakartans feeling
insecure. He expressed a worry that the nervous state of the
capital's inhabitants might soon begin to impinge on daily
economic life.

The two-star general made the remarks after a routine meeting
with the head of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command Lt. Gen.
Djamari Chaniago, the chief of the Army's Special Force Maj. Gen.
Syahrir and the chief of the Jakarta Military Command Maj. Gen.
Djadja Suparman at the city police headquarters.

Gories said that four alleged criminals, including the
suspected leader of a gang thought to be responsible for a number
of robberies in the city, were shot dead in a series of raids
launched by police in separate areas of Jakarta on Thursday.

However, Gories said that a policeman also received knife
wounds to his chest and head after getting into a fight with one
of the suspects during the operation.

He said the alleged leader of a gang of robbers shot during
one raid had been identified as Nimbar bin Umar, 40. He was shot
in North Jakarta early on Thursday morning.

Police suspect his gang have committed at least 20 armed
robberies over a period stretching from early last year until
August of this year.

The gang is also suspected of stealing Rp 40 million
(US$4,000) from a school in Tebet, South Jakarta, in July.

Nimbar was arrested in Kramat Tunggak red-light district on
the strength of a tip-off from his former accomplice Sumbri, who
has been incarcerated in East Jakarta's Cipinang penitentiary
since July.

"Once captured, police ordered Nimbar to lead them to the
hideouts of his other accomplices in East Jakarta. In the Duren
Sawit area, he pointed out a house. Three policemen got out off
the car, leaving one colleague to guard Nimbar," Gories said.

Nimbar launched himself at the officer in a desperate attempt
to escape, but was shot five times. He died instantly, Gories
said.

A separate squad of police officers were forced to shoot an
armed robber who resisted arrest on Jembatan Lima in West
Jakarta.

The suspect, identified as Ibrahim, 21, was shot in the head
and leg. A second man escaped.

Ibrahim was spotted by plainclothes officers at a nearby
junction after he attempted to steal a wristwatch from a man
identified as Usman.

"The victim shouted for help and alerted our undercover
officers," Gories said.

He explained that the suspect was shot in the head after
ignoring warning shots.

Two men were also shot dead by South Jakarta police on
Thursday, while six more were arrested during an operation to
crack down on crime in the South of the city. (emf)