Students arrested for carrying weapons

Evi Mariani, Jakarta

Two students were arrested separately on Saturday for carrying a homemade gun and a sword respectively on their way home from school.

Police have yet to decide what to charge them with.

Bangkit Widodo, 16, a first-year student at the STM Teladan private vocational school was arrested by Jagakarsa Police on Saturday at around 1 p.m. after he was involved in a brawl with other students in front of the Institute of Social and Political Sciences (IISIP) in Lenteng Agung, South Jakarta.

Witnesses said they saw a student take out a gun from his bag and aim it to other students. They later reported it to the police, who immediately searched for Bangkit and found him at Lenteng Agung railway station.

He is currently being detained at Jagakarsa police station in South Jakarta.

Jagakarsa Police detectives' chief First Insp. Endang Adri said on Sunday that the teenager claimed he made the gun himself.

"The gun was a homemade one, normally known as a 'door-lock' gun. These guns usually use tin bullets," he said.

Bangkit, however, gave a different story to reporters.

"I didn't make the gun. I bought it for someone named Black for only Rp 100,000 (US$11.2)," said the student. He claimed he had lied to the police in his statement as he was afraid that Black would find him.

He also said that the gun did not fire bullets.

"It only gives of a loud noise and makes little sparks. It's just like a kid's toy."

Bangkit started carrying the gun after he was beaten up by other students after school some time in January. "I carry the gun just in case I'm attacked. However, I've only carried it three times since I bought it, and only used it once."

He said it was necessary to carry the gun as "the streets can be rough".

Students from other vocational schools often attacked those from his school at Lenteng Agung. Bangkit said he had to pass through the area everyday on his way home to Citayam, Bogor regency.

During the interview, the boy appeared to be on the verge of crying several times, saying he wanted to go home.

Also on Saturday, detectives from Jagakarsa police station apprehended a 17-year-old high school student, M. Nurkholis, in a raid to seize weapons from students. He was caught carrying a sword in his backpack.

"The sword is around 50 centimeters long. It was sticking out of his bag but he covered it with his jacket," said Second Adj. Insp. Suhadi.

High school students often become involved in brawls in the capital, with many of them carrying offensive weapons. Despite police efforts, the brawls, which are sometimes fatal, still continue.