Police shoot two alleged robbers

JAKARTA (JP): Police arrested five men and shot two others yesterday for alleged involvement in robberies at homes in Tangerang.

City Police Spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said that the two were shot dead because they attacked officers during yesterday's raids in Tangerang.

"Police are still searching for two other members of the criminal gang," Aritonang said.

The gang, which had been operating in Tangerang since the middle of last year, he said, specialized in stealing jewelry, home electronic appliances, particularly televisions, and motorcycles.

Aritonang said the gang had made off with at least Rp 4.1 million (US$1,680) from only four victims between December 1996 and April this year.

The seven men were identified as Edi, 24, Jiin, 20, Cecep, 26, Hasbi, 19, Hasan, 32, Achmad, 24, and Anyar, 26. Achmad and Anyar were the ones who were shot yesterday.

"Five of the men were arrested at a hideout in Kampung Cirongek, Mauk, Tangerang, early yesterday while they were preparing another operation. The other two ran away and were shot in nearby Kampung Seletip," Aritonang said.

All of them were unemployed immigrants from outside Tangerang, he added.

Meanwhile, an unemployed man died yesterday after being attacked by truck drivers for attempting to rob another driver at a container dock at Tanjung Priok seaport, North Jakarta.

Aritonang said the man, identified as Jojon alias Bili, 20, had tried to rob Karibin, 43, who was taking a rest at the dock.

Karibin's friend Kosim, who saw Jojon threatening Karibin with a knife, screamed for help.

Ten other truck drivers came and attacked Jojon. Jojon died on the scene from severe head injuries.

Aritonang said the truck drivers were now being questioned at the harbor police office for being involved in the beating. (cst)