Police shoot dead robbers

JAKARTA (JP): East Jakarta Police detectives have shot dead three members of a notorious gang of robbers known as Kelompok Enam (Group of Six) over the last two days in connection with robberies on public buses T-506 plying the Kampung Melayu-Pondok Kopi route.

City police spokesman Sr. Comr. Anton Bahrul Alam told reporters on Friday the police gunned down two suspects, identified as Eddy Gunawan, 25, and Alex, 28, at about 1.30 a.m. on Friday in Pondok Kopi area.

Eddy Gunawan was shot in the left side of his chest, and Alex in the head and right side of his chest.

"These men were fired upon by detectives at the order of East Jakarta Police detective chief of mobile detectives, First. Insp. Toga Tarub," Anton said.

Earlier on Thursday, police shot to death another Group Six member, identified as Tommy, 26, on Jl. Raya Bekasi Timur in Cipinang, East Jakarta, while he was trying to rob bus passengers.

Robberies committed by Kelompok Enam gang have intensified over the past month, Anton added.

According to Anton, Toga and his team, who were conducting a regular patrol, caught Eddy and Alex red-handed holding up passengers of a minibus.

"The police team immediately pursued the bus, and managed to stop it in the Pondok Kopi Ujung area of Duren Sawit, East Jakarta. Police shot both men in self defense," Anton said. (ylt)