Police officers deployed on trains

BANDUNG: In a bid to improve security aboard trains, Bandung's office of the state railway company PT KAI has stationed two Mobile Brigade police officers in every coach of trains departing from Bandung station, starting from Thursday.

Passengers have demanded an improvement in security after last month's murder onboard the Parahyangan, which plies between Bandung and Jakarta

Akhmad Sujadi, spokesman for PT KAI, said on Thursday the new security scheme involved at least 60 police officers. He said that the existing train police (Polsuska) and other security personnel would still be deployed.

"They earn some Rp 60,000 each for a single trip and are armed with handguns," he said, adding that the trains to be guarded included Parahyangan, Argogede, Argowilis and Lodaya.

The presence of Mobile Brigade officers onboard the train seemingly went unnoticed by many passengers.

Wahid, a passenger on the Parahyangan traveling from Jakarta to Bandung said on Friday she was not aware of the special guards onboard.

On April 21, a female employee of a private company was stabbed to death onboard the Parahyangan express train. The motive for the killing of Febriana Farida, 22, is as yet unknown. The alleged murderer was mobbed to death following the incident. (25/sur)