Two alleged hoodlums mobbed to death

TANGERANG (JP): Two alleged hoodlums were mobbed to death by angry Tanah Tinggi residents here on Tuesday night after attempting to extort money from a street vendor, an officer said.

Tangerang police chief Lt. Col. Pudji Hartanto said on Wednesday that the suspected hoodlums, Asnawi, alias Botak, 49 and Ricky, 17, were fatally beaten by dozens of angry residents at about 8:30 p.m.

The incident was ignited by a dispute between Ricky and a street vendor, who refused to give the extortionist money as he ordered, officer Pudji said.

"Ricky then got angry and kicked the vendor," he added.

Ricky then reported the vendor's reluctance to Asnawi, who rushed to the site with a machete in his hand.

Upon their arrival at the scene, the two hoodlums were already surrounded by the angry mob, Pudji said.

The machete Asnawi carried did nothing to save the two from the crowd, the officer said.

Ricky tried to escape but was quickly blocked and beaten by the mob, he said.

According to Pudji, the two, who police records say tortured someone two years ago, died on the spot prior to the arrival of police officers.

Pudji regretted the illegal means of the local residents in solving the dispute.

"They should have handed over the men to the police instead of mobbing them to death. Such illegal action, especially during this Ramadhan fasting month, is absolutely wrong," he said.

So far, police have not named anyone as suspects in the killing of the two hoodlums. (41/jun)