One dead in student brawl

JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of students of a privately run technical high school in Central Jakarta took to the streets yesterday, following the death of a school mate.

They threw stones at students and other passers-by near the school, located on Jl. Kramat Raya.

At least 25 students were detained at the Central Jakarta police precinct for throwing stones and damaging two motorcycles. Some students sustained head injuries.

Central Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col. Abubakar Nataprawira said a student, Bachtiar Effendi, was stabbed in the stomach Tuesday evening by one of three students from another private senior high school who was carrying a knife. The incident occurred when Bachtiar and his friends were passing Jl. Kramat Raya on their way home.

"We have identified the three students. We hope that we can arrest them soon," Abubakar said yesterday.

Bachtiar is the first fatal victim of student disputes since the long school holiday ended in July.

At least 12 students died during the first semester of this school year in separate brawls in the city. (jun)