Sinar Jaya bus burned

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)