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7 teenagers found dead in Bekasi river could have drowned fleeing arrest, say Jakarta police

The teenage bodies wearing identical jackets were discovered shortly after police raided a reported brawl at a grocery store. 

7 teenagers found dead in Bekasi river could have drowned fleeing arrest, say Jakarta police

Evacuation of seven bodies of teenagers found drowned in Bekasi River, outside Jakarta, Indonesia, on Sunday (Jul 22, 2024). (Photo: Jakarta Search and Rescue Agency Office)

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BEKASI, Indonesia: Residents of a housing complex near the Bekasi River, just outside Jakarta, met an unpleasant shock on Sunday (Sep 22) after they discovered seven bodies floating behind a mosque. 

According to police, the bodies are believed to belong to a group of teenagers who drowned while attempting to avoid arrest. 

Acting head of Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) Bekasi City Priadi Santoso confirmed that the first report of the bodies was made by residents at approximately 7am. The victims were found floating in the muddy waters, with visible signs of swelling on their faces but no major injuries.

“There are no significant wounds, only bruises on their heads, which seem to be due to swelling,” said a rescue officer from Bekasi, known only as Mr Fajar, as quoted by Kompas TV on Sunday. 

According to local TV channel TV One, local resident Mdm Umi Suci was searching for her pet cat near the riverbank at around 5.30am. Instead of her cat, she spotted five bodies scattered on both sides of the river which prompted her to immediately alert her local community. They contacted authorities for assistance. 

A joint rescue operation involving the police, National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), and BPBD was later dispatched to retrieve the bodies.

Two more bodies were discovered in the same river. One was found floating downstream, while the other was stranded on the riverbank about 20m away.

According to authorities, the seven victims were dressed identically in black jackets. However, it remains unclear if the jackets had any specific insignias or affiliations.

The police hospital’s Head of Medical Services, Herry Wijatmoko, noted that the bodies had likely been in the water for at least 24 hours, as the cold water temperature had slowed down the decomposition process.

According to local authorities, the depth of the Bekasi River varies, with the deepest points reaching 2m. However, the specific locations where the bodies were discovered were much shallower, only ankle-deep, or about 10cm.

Police have confirmed that investigations are underway to establish the identities of the victims. 

All seven bodies have been transferred to the Keramat Jati Police Hospital in East Jakarta, where autopsies are scheduled to determine the exact cause of death.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Bekasi residents were shocked by the discovery of seven bodies floating in the Bekasi River, Bekasi City, just outside Jakarta, on Sunday morning (Jul 22, 2024). (Photo:X/txtdrbekasi)

Preliminary police investigations said that the seven teenagers drowned after jumping into the river when they were suspected of trying to avoid police arrest. Authorities believe they could not swim and were swept away by the current.

“It can be assumed that they jumped,” said Director of General Criminal Investigation of the Greater Jakarta Metropolitan Region Wira Satya Triputra, as quoted by local media platform Tempo, following an examination of the bodies at the police hospital on Sunday.

Jakarta Police Chief Inspector General Karyoto also confirmed that the seven teenagers threw themselves into the river fearing a police patrol around the area according to local media, Detik.  

On Monday, the police reported 22 individuals were arrested during a raid on a reported brawl on Saturday. They also seized 21 sharp weapons, 30 motorcycles, and eight mobile phones. 

According to Kompas, this evidence was recovered from a small hut located in front of the PT Gudang Semen Merah Putih cement warehouse, near the scene. 

Of those arrested, three have been named as suspects for carrying long celurit—bladed weapons commonly associated with street violence.

According to media reports, the incident occurred after a group of teenagers gathered at a small grocery stall, staying there until the early hours of Saturday morning. 

According to preliminary reports, the group was said to be celebrating the birthday of one of the teenagers, Mr Muhammad Rizky, 19. His body was later found among the seven who died in the river. 

"Earlier, we were informed that they were celebrating a birthday. But if it was a birthday, where’s the cake?" Mr Karyoto said at the scene, as quoted by Kompas.

Police confirmed they had conducted the raid following information from local residents that there was a brawl but when they arrived many teenagers had already fled the scene.

Police reportedly believe that some of the teenagers had jumped into the river behind the grocery store in a desperate attempt to escape the police raid. 

Rawa Lumbu Regional Police Chief Sukadi said that teenage brawls are a frequent occurrence in the area, with similar incidents happening once or twice a week.

"Police cars with their sirens blaring approached the group that was said to be involved in a brawl. They fled to the back of a small house in front of the river," said Mr Sukadi, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.

Authorities have yet to confirm how many teenagers besides the seven who drowned had attempted to flee by jumping into the river.

Jakarta police chief Karyoto also defended the police patrol carried out in the early hours of Saturday, saying that it was justified, given the seriousness of the brawl.

“Our patrol was appropriate; this was a significant issue within our jurisdiction. We conducted the patrol at 3am, a time when most people are asleep. Yet, these are underage kids (though) some are over 18. We haven’t accounted for all of them yet,” said Mr Karyoto. 

Police are now interviewing the victims’ friends and family members to gain a clearer understanding of their activities leading up to the tragic incident. They are also awaiting the results of the post-mortem and autopsy reports, which are expected to shed further light on the cause of death.

According to observers, teenage brawls, known locally as tawuran, are an alarming phenomenon in Indonesia. Authorities have identified peer pressure and the pursuit of social recognition as key factors driving such behaviour. 

They add that students with poor academic performance are often involved in these brawls.

Acting Chairperson of the National Commission for Children (Komnas Anak), Lia Latifah, said that there is also a growing concern over child abuse and violence which could contribute to the rise of teenage brawls. 

In January she was quoted by local media platform Kompas as saying that child abuse is on the rise in Indonesia with the number of cases in 2023 reaching 3,547, a 27 per cent increase from the previous year.

She emphasised the importance of community involvement in reporting incidents that pose risks to children’s safety. She also urged police to act swiftly in order to prevent such incidents from escalating into tragedies.

Ms Lia also noted that the problem reflects deeper social changes among Indonesia’s youth. They include the wider spread of social media, economic pressures, lifestyle shifts, and inadequate education.

She called for a collaborative effort from all sectors to address the root causes and to ensure the safety and well-being of the nation’s children.

Source: Others/ps(ih/ao)

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