Police continue probe into attack on Tangerang kiosks
Police continue probe into attack on Tangerang kiosks
TANGERANG (JP): Local police are still investigating the
burning and destruction of 14 food kiosks Saturday evening by
about 2,000 angry Cikupa residents who accused the warung owners
of offering prostitution services.
As of yesterday, no one had been arrested and no fatalities
had been reported. Estimated material losses are in the millions
of rupiah.
"We still need to question a number of people believed to have
taken part in the incident," said a police officer yesterday at
the scene, where police had been deployed to maintain order.
The attack against the food stalls in Kampung Kawidaran in
Cibadak village on Jl. Raya Serang started at about 9 p.m.
Saturday.
Local residents gathered and started yelling and throwing
rocks and wood at the kiosks. Panicked owners and customers
inside the stalls ran away as the situation grew out of control.
As the kiosks emptied out, the angry mob ran amok and
destroyed 11 kiosks and then set ablaze three others.
Local police officers and four fire brigade units rushing to
the scene brought the situation under control after a few hours.
Ramadhan
A resident, Imam, told reporters yesterday that many of his
neighbors had grown weary of warning the kiosk owners and asking
local authorities to stop the area's sex trade, especially during
Ramadhan, the Moslem fasting month.
"We finally had to act on our own after receiving no response
from the regent and the Tangerang legislative council," he said.
Imam believed each of the food kiosks offered five or six
prostitutes, which could be hired for Rp 25,000.
"Customers could be joined by a prostitute in a bedroom at the
kiosk or in the bushes behind the kiosks," Imam said.
The residents, he said, could no longer contain themselves
when they learned that the kiosk owners still ran their illegal
sex business during Ramadhan.
Saturday's incident was the third case of a massive attack by
angry residents against warung believed to offer illegal services
during this year's fasting month.
The first took place at Pondok Aren where angry residents
damaged food kiosks suspected of offering prostitution services.
The second was in Teluk Naga where people attacked kiosks
believed to be gambling dens. (41/bsr)