Policeman stabbed by staring strangers

JAKARTA (JP): A plainclothes police officer was stabbed by two strangers on Thursday evening for allegedly challenging their stares.

The mobile brigade police officer, First. Adj. Brig. Muwardi Habibi Lahab, was taking his girlfriend window-shopping at Robinson department store in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, when he came across two men staring at him, Pasar Minggu subprecinct police chief Adj. Comr. Umar Effendi said.

Muwardi stared back at them but left shortly afterwards on his motorcycle.

When he arrived at his police dormitory in Pasar Minggu and was about to enter the gate the two men he had stared at earlier suddenly appeared and lunged at his motorcycle so that Muwardi fell off it.

Before Muwardi had a chance to get up, the two men had punched him repeatedly and stabbed him in his back. The two men escaped on their motorcycle while Muwardi's girlfriend was left screaming for help.

Muwardi was rushed to the police hospital in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta. (01)