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)