Police begin cracking down on thugs

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.