Street justice worries police

Street justice worries police

BANYUMAS, Central Java: Rampant street justice in the Banyumas
jurisdiction, with dozens alleged criminal killed by the mob,
seven of them were burned to death in public this year, has
worried local police.

Amid the frustration, police officers and some 10,000 local
Muslims, including the ulemas, met on Sunday at an event called
istigotsah (unofficial gathering). The event took place at the
Cilacap Police office yard.

Deputy chief of Central Java Police Brig. Gen. Djaya Atmaja
told the audience that taking law into one's hands was against
Islamic teaching, and totally unacceptable.

"Let's stop the street justice and create peace among us," he
said.

"Cilacap is one of the regencies in Central Java which has the
most street justice victims. This year alone, as many as 16
alleged criminals have been mobbed to death in Cilacap," Djaya
said.

The gathering, starting at 7 p.m. to 00 a.m., was closed by
mass prayer. (45/sur)