TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Central Jakarta District Police has arrested 44 thugs in an operation on Sunday, September 14, 2014. A public relations officer of the Central Jakarta District Police, Police Comr. Suyatno, said that the thugs were arrested in the vicinity of the National Monument (Monas) and Pasar Senen Station. "Those areas are hotspots of criminal activities," said Suyatno to Tempo on Monday, September 15, 2014.

On top of the two areas, Suyatno also said that two other hotspots were raided, which are Tanah Abang and Gambir Station. Suyatno does not know when the operations will end, but said the police are constantly monitoring the situation on the ground and using those data to plan the next raid.

The raid on Sunday is a routine operation by the police to ensure a thug-free Central Jakarta. In the operation, the police managed to arrest a number of people who were suspected of planning to commit criminal acts. "We confiscated a number of weapons on a number of suspects," said Suyatno.

Those arrested with a Jakarta-issued identification card (KTP) will be transferred to Jakarta's Social Agency for further counselling. Suyatno, however, does not know the exact numbers of people being held and counselled by the police at this stage.

AYU WANDARI