TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – A company of Brimob officers from the Detachment A Bima, West Nusa Tenggara, stormed the headquarters of Bima City's Traffic Police Headquarters on Friday, May 29. They barged into the building and attacked their fellow police officers, leaving nine cops injured.
Citizens who were at the building's DMV to process their driver's licenses took cover at the Narcotics Unit to avoid getting involved in the clash. Officers from Propam who came to the site had to fire shots to the air to stop the attack.
Comm. Moendra WDW, Bima Resort Police's operations chief, suspected that the attack was a follow up to yesterday's feud between Brimob and traffic police officers during a motorcycle raid.
"This is a trivial matter; it's related to the traffic operations that took place on Thursday," he said.
Ridwan, a citizen, said the attack led to fights between members of the police. He said that sharp weapons and firearms were used.
At least 13 motorcycles were damaged along the building's windows and doors. At the Resort Police Headquarters, the Brimob men vandalized the Paruga Toi meeting room and several motorcycles parked outside. They even beat up the Shabara members who were on guard.
First Inspector Muchtar, the Company Commander of the Mobile Brigade Detachment A, was unable to talk to reporters. One of his men told Tempo the inspector was busy taking care of his squad members.
AKHYAR M NUR
