He said the decision to provide the police guards was made following the hijacking of a Gajayana train on the Malang to Jakarta route. The hijacking happened on Saturday morning when three unidentified men illegally entered the train driver`s compartment and forced him to take the train to Gambir station, Central Jakarta.
Sugeng said previously security personnel were only placed in train cars but not in the locomotives. "Now we will intensify security by placing a police officer in every locomotive running on Jakarta-Central Java and Jakarta-East Java routes," he said.
He admitted the new policy would only be implemented during the Idul Fitri holidays. However, he added, if necessary, placing security personnel at every locomotive would be made a permanent measure.
Meanwhile, Vice Chief of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, Brig Gen Suhardi ALius, said the hijacking happened on Saturday morning in a train that had left Surabaya (East Java) for Jakarta.
He said three men had illegally entered the locomotive driver`s room and ordered him to take the train to Gambir station, Jakarta, without stopping. The driver complied and sent a request to the railway operator to open all lines for the train to go straight to Gambir station.
He said due to busy activity at Gambir station, railway operator order the machinist to direct the train to Senen station. "Once the train enter Senen station, the machinist pull the emergency brake while police personnel act fast and capture the hijackers," he said.
Up till now, the hijackers are still under police custody.
(T.W004/A051/HAJM/S012)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
