Police begin cracking down on thugs

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

In a three-day operation aimed at arresting suspected thugs and curbing lawlessness across the capital, the city police have netted over 241 people for alleged extortion, for not having identity cards and for being in the possession of sharp weapons and guns.

City police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani said on Saturday that the detainees would be processed in accordance with the law.

He explained that the police have identified 120 spots as places prone to thuggery, including on board public vehicles.

"I have placed the officers at those places, including plainclothes police," he added.

In response to the increasing complaints over the presence of thugs -- both individuals and organized gangs, the National Police, together with the military, have embarked on an operation to get rid of thugs.

The Jakarta administration joining the month-long crackdown, are encouraging residents to give the authorities tip-offs.

Firman said that the police managed to confiscate hundreds of sharp weapons, several guns, stolen cars and motorcycles, gambling equipment, pirated CDs, and various kinds of drugs during the operations.

In Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, 17 people were arrested on Saturday at several locations, including the market, bus and railway stations for not having an ID card and for involvement in gambling operations.

To avoid a tipoff by police, Pasar Minggu subprecinct police chief Comr. Suyudi Ario Seto asked his officers to turn in their cellular phones.

Also in South Jakarta, a total of 12 suspected thugs were arrested by Kebayoran Baru Police, who conducted raids at several spots in Blok M and Blok S.

In Kebayoran Lama, the police arrested six suspected thugs and two people without IDs.

"The six were arrested because we caught them extorting others. The two without IDs will be sent to the district administration office to get them a Jakarta ID," said Kebayoran Lama Police chief Comr. Helmy Santika.

Tanah Abang Police subprecinct in Central Jakarta managed to arrest 44 suspected thugs. Police confiscated a gun with seven bullets, and several knives.

Tanah Abang Police precinct chief Comr. Bandriyah said that all of those arrested such as those selling pirated CDs and carrying sharp weapons, were directly declared suspects.

In Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, 21 suspected thugs, mostly the distributors of fake ship tickets and middlemen, were arrested by the police.

Firman said that the police were focusing on cracking down street thugs first as they were easy to identify and relatively easy to handle.

"We will gain information from the arrested thugs. They will tell us whether they are part of an organized group. Based on the information, we will track these groups down," he said.

Firman promised that he would also be tough on organizations that employed thuggery in "sweeping" operations or attacking other groups if the information led to those groups.