Troops rescue man from mob's attack

JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of Duri Utara, West Jakarta residents on Monday evening threw stones at the house of a local resident who was hiding inside after wounding a youth with a sword.

Two armored vehicles which rushed to the scene to rescue the man from his house on Jl. Duri Utara II in Tambora were also pelted with stones, bricks and bottles by the angry residents.

As of last night, the area was still tense and many people in the neighborhood were on alert.

Local residents told The Jakarta Post that the incident began at around 4:30 p.m. when local youths hit a Suzuki Carry minibus with a ball they were playing with.

"He (the owner of the vehicle) angrily came out of his house with a samurai in his hand, chasing the boys," a resident said.

The man eventually wounded Prayitno, 18, a university student, with his weapon, and then returned to his home.

This immediately ignited the anger of the residents, who gathered outside his home and began to throw stones, daring the man to leave his house.

The man was eventually rescued by soldiers in armored vehicles.

Prayitno's mother, Netty, said, "My son has been rushed to Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital." (emf/bsr)