Sinar Jaya bus burned

PURWOKERTO, Central Java: Following a deadly chain collision involving a Sinar Jaya bus which killed 10 people on Sunday, an angry mob burned down another Sinar Jaya bus when it passed Bukateja street about 30 kilometers east of here on Tuesday.

The incident took place around 5:30 p.m. when the bus, bound for Jakarta, was suddenly intercepted by a group of locals in front of the Bukateja mosque.

The passengers panicked and jumped out of the bus, leaving their luggage behind, while the driver also fled the scene as mobs started to pour gasoline over the bus and eventually set it ablaze.

There were no casualties reported in the incident but the material losses are estimated to reach Rp 400 million. The bus passengers were left abandoned on the side of the road.

Tension was still high in the area as of Tuesday night when police were still busy dispersing the crowd around the site of the incident.

"The crowds apparently were angry over Sunday's crash that killed 10 residents of Bukateja. We're still trying to persuade them to go home to prevent further violence," Purbalingga Police chief Supt. Sukamto Handoko said.

There are some 100 Sinar Jaya buses operating in Purwokerto, plying the route to Jakarta and other cities in Java. (45/edt)