A member of the Batam police station in Rempang, Galang, was lightly hit by the fleeing robbers and had to be treated at Awal Bros hospital, Barelang police chief Senior Commissioner Eka Yudha Satriawan said at the site of the crime.
The police managed to arrest two of the robbers and but five got away.
"The five fled from the side of the store into Bida Asri 2 housing complex," he said.
"In the beginning two of the robbers acted as if they were buying something, but suddenly pointed their guns to the store cashier, while the others followed brandishing their knives.
In the attack, one of the robbers struck one of the employees with a knife on the head.
At at time another employee screamed calling for help, and the cry was heard by the six policemen while on patrol in the area.
The police officers had barely entered the store, when the armed robbers fired at them.
An exchange of fire ensued, with the robbers fleeing the store, but the police managed to shoot dead one of them.
The robbers came to the store using five motorcycles with license plates BP 4263 FT, BP 3650 H, BP 3953 HC, BP 4599 DF, and 6202 now held by the police as evidence.
But the robbers still managed to take away some cash from the store and a laptop, but the total loss was still uncertain.
The robbery had attracted many people who happened to be near the store when it robbery happened, causing a serious traffic jam on Dotamana road toward Hang Nadim airport in Batam and Batam University.
The owner of the store and his employees had been taken to the Barelang police station for questioning. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
