Panic over roaming 'pocong' and machete-wielding 'pocong' turns out to be hoax

In recent days, residents of the Tangerang Raya area and Jakarta have been startled by rumours of roaming ‘pocong’ and even a pocong armed with a machete. The appearance of the pocong turned out to be a hoax. This is how the police traced the truth.

According to detikcom’s summary, the controversy over pocong in the Tangerang area had been circulating since the start of the week. One social media post claimed there was a pocong terror incident in Tangerang, particularly in Rajeg District.

In the circulating narrative, the figure resembling a pocong was alleged not to be a supernatural occurrence, but a criminal modus operandi. The perpetrators allegedly disguised themselves to frighten residents into panicking and opening doors.

After doors were opened, the perpetrators would carry out crimes such as robberies. Responding to the post, police urged the public to remain calm but vigilant.

“Increase alertness, but stay calm and not panic, and do not easily believe information that has not been validated, and do not spread information whose truth is not clear,” said Tangerang City Police Chief AKBP Andi Muhammad Indra Waspada Amirullah, Tuesday (19/5).

The Tangerang City Police then checked the location claimed to be the site of pocong terror in Rajeg District. Police checked around the indicated site, but results were nil.

“Until now, nothing has been found. We are still conducting an in-depth investigation because there have been no official reports lodged with the police,” said Public Relations Head of the Tangerang City Police, Ipda Sandro Tree Bahara, on Wednesday (20/5).

According to Sandro, information about pocong terror was only in social media posts and could not yet be confirmed. Police are also investigating the motive behind the spread of the information.

“That’s why we are still probing,” he said.

Pocong roaming rumours

The pocong scare also spread to Ciputat Timur, South Tangerang. Rumours of roaming pocong in Ciputat Timur circulated in a thread. Some netizens claimed to have seen pocong apparitions.

Several netizens claimed to have seen pocong on Jalan Haji Gadung Raya. One netizen said they saw two to three pocong sitting around.

Others said they saw a pocong near their boarding house in Ciputat Timur, near the Pertamina Complex. The thread spread distress among residents.

The story spread rapidly. Police who received information about the pocong apparition moved to check the location.

“We have gone down and spoken to several residents around the location; there was no pocong,” said Bambang, contacted by detikcom on Thursday (21/5).

Bambang confirmed there was no pocong or ghost in the area. Police traced the pocong belief to a cosplay street performer. “So there was no pocong; what there is are buskers cosplaying as pocong,” he said.

He added they would also seek clarification from the account owner who first spread the issue. He urged the public to verify information before sharing it on social media.

“Check the veracity before spreading the issue,” he said.

Bambang noted the issue had caused disturbance and anxiety in the community. He also hoped that the public would not be easily swayed by unclear information.

‘Pocong’ buying drinks at a shop

One of the small shopkeepers, Nur, confirmed the cosplaying pocong buskers who created the stir. Nur also admitted the cosplayed pocong busker had once bought drinks at his shop.

“Yes, there were two of them. They didn’t do anything; they just bought drinks,” Nur told a video shared by Ciputat Timur Police Chief Kompol Bambang Askar Sodiq.

Nur said the cosplaying pocong busker had visited his shop several times at night. But the pocong busker did not harass anyone and only rested at his shop.

“They were just hanging around there (beside the shop), resting, in pocong costume. They only bought drinks, didn’t do anything,” he explained.

“They have visited three times here; the last time was about three days ago, I think,” Nur added.

Similar testimony came from Sani, a trader at the Pertamina Complex. He knew that the pocong causing the stir was a cosplay busker.

“I have seen a pocong-costumed busker about 2-4 people,” said Sani.

Hoax Pocong with a Machete

The police also received information about a ‘pocong’ with a machete that was conveyed directly via the Ciputat Timur Police Station hotline. The Ciputat Timur Police Chief, Kompol Bambang Askar Sodiq, said the information was relayed by a caller who claimed to have heard from a friend that the pocong was roaming on the football field at Jalan Cempaka Raya, Rengas, Ciputat Timur, on Thursday (21/5) around 21:00 WIB.

“A caller reported via the hotline that he had information from a friend that the pocong was roaming at the football field on Jalan Cempaka Raya, Rengas, Ciputat Timur,” Bambang said in a statement on Friday (22/5).

In this report, the caller claimed that his friend said the pocong carried a machete. The caller also said there had been victims as a result of the pocong’s actions.

“The report said it came from his friend; that the pocong is a robbery modus operandi; even if only a graze, there are supposed to be victims by now. That was what the caller said his friend told him, not him personally,” he explained.

Police then checked the information by visiting the location. However, after inspection, police did not find the pocong in question.

“We checked the Crime Scene; it was empty, and local residents were asked but no one reported seeing a pocong,” said Bambang.

When police tried to confirm the information again, the caller’s phone number was no longer active.

“The number is no longer active,” he added.

In response to widespread rumours about ‘pocong’, Bambang urged the public not to easily trust information spread on social media. He asked people to verify before sharing.