Two alleged thieves burned alive in Tangerang

TANGERANG (JP): Angry residents mobbed and burned alive two unidentified men at two separate locations here late on Friday after the victims were caught red-handed stealing: one stole a motorcycle, the other stole valuables from a house.

An officer of Cipondoh Police subprecinct said residents on Jl. H. Rimpang, Kunciran Indah, Cipondoh district of Tangerang spontaneously set upon a man after a wounded ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver Niman, 32, shouted for help.

The policeman said that Niman, who usually waits for passengers at Bekok Market in Tangerang, was asked by a man to take him to Cipondoh.

"As Niman arrived on Jl. Rimpang, the passenger asked him to halt the motorcycle, saying that he wanted to go to the toilet. But, as soon as Niman stopped, another unidentified man emerged from the bushes at the roadside and directly seized the motorcycle," said the officer, who requested anonymity.

Even though his life was threatened, Niman resisted, causing one of the men to pull out his knife and stab him.

As Niman shouted for help, local residents rushed to the crime scene. The two robbers then ran in different directions, leaving the motorcycle. But the residents managed to arrest one of the robbers.

"As the mob beat the man up, a resident came and poured a jerry can of gasoline over the robber's body, ignoring his screams for forgiveness. Another resident immediately set fire to the man's body."

Tangerang Police acting detective chief Adj. Comr. Kustanto confirmed the incident.

According to Kustanto, residents of the village of Karang Tengah, Pangdengan Legok subdistrict in Tangerang also burned a man suspected to be a thief, at about 10:30 p.m on Friday.

He said the suspected thief, who could not be identified, entered a local resident's house Sudirja, 40, after breaking down the back door. Sudirja, who heard the noise, checked it and found a stranger in his house.

"Sudirja then shouted 'thief' repeatedly, prompting neighbors to rush out and surround the stranger.

"The angry residents immediately beat the man up and one of the residents poured gasoline over him and set fire to the man."

The two burned bodies were sent to Tangerang General Hospital for postmortem examination.(01)