Residents storm police station over shooting
Residents storm police station over shooting
JAKARTA (JP): Residents of the Johar Baru district in Central
Jakarta stormed the compound of the local police station on
Tuesday, following the fatal shooting of a local man by police.
The residents were armed with sharp weapons and steel rods.
"The police must take responsibility for this. The victim was
an ordinary man and one of your policemen shot him to death. Look
at this!" a woman from Galur subdistrict said, while displaying
the bloody cap of the victim to police officers at the station.
"If you do not take action against the police officer who shot
the victim, we will destroy your station," the woman shouted.
The residents were enraged by the shooting of Cecep, 18. The
incident occurred at 1:45 p.m. on Jl. Abdul Gani.
Cecep was reportedly killed by an officer who was firing at a
fleeing purse snatcher.
An employee at the Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital (RSCM)
morgue, Rachmat, said Cecep, a resident of Galur subdistrict,
died of a single gunshot wound to the chest.
The Jakarta Police identified the shooter as First Brig. B.
Pandjaitan, a detective from the city police's violent crimes
unit.
"Pandjaitan is currently being questioned by officers from the
city police's internal affairs division, and will be sanctioned
according to existing regulations. This crime will not go
unpunished and the shooter will be taken to court," Jakarta
Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Anton Bachrul Alam said on Tuesday.
Anton offered his deepest condolences to Cecep's family on
behalf of the Jakarta Police Headquarters.
According to a police officer, a man snatched a woman's purse
near Jl. Abdul Gani, and the woman began to cry for help.
"Pandjaitan, who was driving a gray Toyota Kijang van, was in
the area and heard the cries of the woman. He chased after the
thief, who took a turn toward Jl. Abdul Gani," the officer, who
requested anonymity, said.
"Pandjaitan drew his gun and fired a shot ... just as the
thief was passing by Cecep. Cecep was hit instead. We are so very
sorry. We only wanted to catch the bad guy who was fleeing."
After firing his gun, Pandjaitan reportedly ran to check on
the condition of Cecep. When he saw the blood, the source said,
Pandjaitan carried Cecep to his van and drove him to RSCM, but
Cecep died on the way to the hospital.
This is the third wrongful shooting in Greater Jakarta this
year.
On February 28, First Brig. Pambudi of the West Jakarta Police
shot to death Yudianto, 31, an employee of a private company, on
Jl. Raya Semanan in Kalideres, West Jakarta, after mistaking him
for a robber.
On April 16, residents of the Gunung Sindur district in Bogor
attacked Second Brig. Joko Supriatna and Second Brig. Agus
Budiono of the Bogor Police after the two shot a woman factory
worker, Siti, 35. (ylt)