Police bust thugs along nothern coast route

Indra Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Indramayu

Police authorities have finally started cracking down on hoodlums extorting money from bus and private car drivers passing by the Northern Coast route on Java island.

Indramayu police chief Eko Hadi Sutedjo revealed on Friday that six thugs, locally known as preman, had been arrested in a police operation aimed at getting rid of hoodlums operating on the Northern Coast route.

"They were caught red-handed extorting money from drivers in the Haurgeulis area or Indramayu on Thursday evening," Eko said on Friday.

The arrest was made after hundreds of bus drivers, crews and bus owners protested to Indramayu police demanding the authorities to take stern action against the hoodlums.

Chairman of Indramayu Organization of Land Transportation Owners (Organda) told The Jakarta Post on Friday that bus drivers and crews also went to the Organda office to complain about money extortion by hoodlums.

"Hundreds of bus drivers and crews from five bus companies plying the Cirebon-Jakarta route complained about the extortion on Thursday," he said.

Bus companies plying the Cirebon-Jakarta route include Bhineka, Sahabat, Jusuf Sekeluarga, Tiga Putra and PT GAruda Mas. Together, they have around 500 buses.

Last Tuesday, the same bus drivers, crews and bus owners also lodged a complaint with Organda.

"We reported their complaints to the police last Tuesday," Iskandar said.

Bus drivers are often forced to pay as much as Rp 100,000 daily to hoodlums.

Eko said the arrested thugs hailed from Kertajaya village, Bongas district, Indramayu regency.

According to Iskandar, hoodlums were operating freely in areas such as Cirebon, Jatibarang, Indramayu and Pamanukan.

"The hoodlums are operating in groups of between five to 10. They always carry sharp weapons such as knifes and machetes. Sometimes they also hurt the victims," Eko said.

Ruskendar, a bus driver plying the Cirebon-Jakarta route, said the thugs do not want small change.

"They feel insulted if we give them small change. Drivers pay between Rp 10,000 and Rp 100,000 to each group of hoodlums that stop them," he said.

According to Iskandar, the most dangerous areas are Jatibarang, Widasari, Kandanghaur, Eretan and Pamanukan. They operated night and day, he added.

"Not so long ago, the preman stopped a military bus carrying air force cadets and asked them to pay," Iskandar said.

"If they can stop and extort money from military personnel, how much more to civilians," he said, urging the police to take firm action against the hoodlums.