Simmering city angst boils over

Simmering city angst boils over

JAKARTA: A group of teenagers on their way home from the Bung
Karno Sports Complex in Central Jakarta got into a shouting match
that ended in a beating by two bamboo-wielding homeless men who
were teasing them as they passed by Gate 7 of the complex on
Wednesday evening.

Yudi Siswanto, 22 and Nurwandi, 23, both homeless and
unemployed, became offended by the taunts and teasing by the
youths and began chasing the teens with bamboo rods.

During the chase, Ronald Indrawan Purwadi, 17, tripped and
fell, while his seven other friends managed to flee. Yudi and
Nurwandi then severely beat Ronald, and only stopped the attack
after patrolling police officers arrived.

The officers then took Yudi and Nurwandi down to the
stationhouse for questioning at the Tanah Abang subprecinct.
Ronald, who suffered serious head injuries, was being treated at
the Mintohardjo Navy Hospital nearby. -- JP