Suspected thieves shot dead
JAKARTA (JP): Central Jakarta Police gunned down yesterday two men believed to have been involved in a series of robberies.
A police source said the two alleged criminals were shot dead after they tried to resist arrest by attacking officers.
Chief Sgt. Tahan Marpaung of the precinct identified the men as Rustam Soleh bin Kastari, 37, of Gg. Damai in Cileduk, Tangerang, and Karno bin Saryo, 25, of Jl. Palayan in Ciganjur, Pasar Minggu in South Jakarta.
In the early hours of yesterday morning, Rustam and Karno were showing police detectives the location of hideouts used by their accomplices, the officer said.
"About 3 a.m. the suspects suggested stopping in Larangan village in Ciputat, saying that one of their friends resided somewhere there."
As the police officers were getting out of the vehicle, Karno started running away while Rustam attacked one of the officers in an attempt to distract attention from his friend, Marpaung said.
Police defended themselves by shooting Karno in the head and stomach before firing at Rustam, who was shot in the head and right thigh, he said.
Both bodies were sent to Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital for postmortem examinations.
Marpaung said the two men were on the Central Jakarta Police's most wanted list for criminals.
"They've been involved recently in a series of robberies in several areas such as Cempaka Putih, Kemayoran and Kramat Raya," he said.
The double shooting has raised the toll of suspected criminals shot dead by city police to about 90 people this year.
The last shooting took place one week ago when three suspects were gunned down in two separate incidents.
The three were fired upon after allegedly being caught red- handed during robberies in Bekasi and South Jakarta.
The first two were shot dead by Bekasi Police after breaking into the East Jakarta office of the City Land Transportation Agency.
The third suspect was shot by South Jakarta Police when he resisted arrest after he and his accomplices robbed a house in Kemang Timur. Two of the offender's alleged accomplices were apprehended for questioning. (04)