Three shot dead, 68 nabbed for street crimes

JAKARTA (JP): Police officers shot five alleged criminals, three of them dead, and arrested 68 others for their involvement in a street crimes in the capital in the period between Nov. 25 and Dec. 2, a police officer said on Thursday.

City police spokesman Lt. Col. Edward Aritonang said the officers were forced to shoot the three dead because the men had been extremely violent when committing crimes at street junctions, on toll roads and in public transportation vehicles.

"The three dead victims were among five suspects shot by the officers. The two others sustained only light injuries," Aritonang said.

He said one of the dead victims, identified as Tulus Hutahaya, 28, was shot after allegedly extorting money from a bajaj (three- wheel motorized vehicle) driver and wounding two pedestrians in the downtown Kota area in West Jakarta on Tuesday.

The remaining two, who were not identified, were shot separately after robbing passengers on a Kopaja minibus in Cideng, Central Jakarta, and a minivan in Cawang, East Jakarta.

The two wounded victims were identified as Sobur, 17 and Marintang Sitorus, 22.

Aritonang said nine people residents accused of crimes were beaten up. "Four of them were beaten to death," he said without giving further details except that the other five were eventually handed over to the police.

He said the arrested suspects also included some considered as "instigators". "Their actions started with the sparking of fake disturbances on the streets and ended up with their friends extorting money from frightened motorists," he said.

The spokesman said most of the 68 suspects were arrested in East and South Jakarta.

He added officers would continue to take stern action, such as shooting, against criminals, but said that all the measures would be taken in line with the existing laws.

"Such stern actions are aimed at reducing the rising number of crimes on the streets and improving security on the streets," he said.

He said the police, backed up by soldiers from the Jakarta Military Garrison, would intensify their deployment at street junctions, on toll roads and at places of worship in areas prone to crime.

"We cannot station officers on all streets. But we are patrolling the streets every day," he said without mentioning the number of officers deployed.

Many city residents, including Governor Sutiyoso, have expressed concern over the rising crime wave on the capital's streets. (jun)