April 09, 2012
Bogor. In a role reversal, the hard-line Islamic Defenders Front was on the receiving end of a vigilante raid.
An outpost belonging to the group known as the FPI — which is known for its penchant for violence and raids on locations it deems sinful — was attacked by dozens of unidentified men early on Sunday morning in the Sukaraja subdistrict of Bogor.
Some 20 motorcycles, each carrying two to three men, attacked the outpost at around 3:30 a.m., according to local FPI subdistrict head Syaiful.
“They came from the Bogor-Jakarta highway suddenly. They kept provoking us, and they all held blades and blunt instruments,” Syaiful said.
Some 20 FPI members were present at the time of the attack, he said, and three were wounded in the clash that ensued. Two of suffered head lacerations while the other was hit in the head with a blunt instrument.
Sukaraja Police chief Comr. Ipik Kusmaya said investigators had questioned three FPI members about the incident.
“We are also deploying several of our personnel to monitor the area,” Ipik said.
Hadi Ali, the head of the local FPI advisory board, said it was not the first time the outpost had been visited by a mob.
“Not long ago, they also came to provoke us, but no clash erupted. In essence, they did not want our outpost here,” Hadi said.
The outpost, he said, was built some three months ago “as part of our efforts to observes places that are usually used for vice.”
Hadi speculated that the attackers had come from a nearby drinking stall.
“Irresponsible people get drunk and engage in sleaze at the stall,” he claimed.
Ipik said police would investigate and urged the FPI “not to take matters into their own hands.”
(x the JG)
ma 9 apr 2012 - 4:06