Residents pelt stones at factory, burn security post

JAKARTA (JP): At least 200 residents from Sukanegra, Tangerang, threw stones at a carbon factory, which they accuse of causing air pollution, and set fire to its security post on Wednesday night.

No fatalities were reported in the incident, which took place at about 9:30 p.m.

Tangerang Police chief Lt. Col. Pudji Hartanto said on Thursday the residents had long expressed their concern about the pollution, but the owners of the factory PT Lintang Cikupa had done nothing to address the problem.

"This problem is a very old one. Why the people reacted in the way they did on Wednesday, I don't understand. Maybe it's becoming a trend," Pudji told The Jakarta Post.

After struggling for about half an hour, fire fighters with three engines were finally able to put out the fire.

Damages and losses have yet to be counted.

Also in Tangerang, hundreds of angry people raided and set on fire 28 dimly-lit kiosks on Wednesday morning which they believed were being used as centers for prostitution in Sungai Tahang, Selembaran Jati village, Kosambi district.

No fatalities or injuries were reported in the incident which took place at about 10:30 a.m.

Separately, West Jakarta Police chief Lt. Col. Adjie Rustam Ramdja said on Thursday that at least six people were being questioned over the burning of cars in a gang fight in Asemka subdistrict on Wednesday evening.

"It is getting ridiculous, this burning trend. If the police does not take strict action, it will just go on and on. I will get to the bottom of this case very soon," Adjie said.

"What people like this need is not preaching. There has to be some action to show them the importance of allowing the police to handle the people's problems."

Four cars and a motorcycle were set alight following the fight over the control of a number of gambling dens in the area.

Local residents said it began at about 6:00 pm when dozens of ABAU gang-members raided the deserted Bank Angkasa Pura building on Jl. Asemka.

The building has recently been used as a gambling den, and is reportedly controlled by a gang led by a man identified as Martin. (ylt)