Police officers deployed on trains

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)