Residents take law into own hands

TANGERANG (JP): Hundreds of people burned and destroyed dozens of dimly lit food stalls in several villages here Wednesday evening, claiming the stalls had been used as brothels.

The destruction erupted after the stalls' owners ignored residents' complaints.

The residents strongly opposed the existence of the stalls because, as well as accusing them of selling sex, they said they sold alcohol freely to patrons.

The destruction took place in the villages of Jatake, Legok and Babakan in Legok district.

No fatalities were reported because both the stalls' owners and the women who allegedly worked in them had been warned beforehand that there would be trouble.

Deployed officers from the Tangerang Police precinct managed to prevent the commotion from spreading to nearby areas by midnight.

"No one was arrested in the episode," Lt. Col. Moch. Soleh, head of the Tangerang social and political affairs office, said. (41/hhr)