Madiun, East Java (ANTARA News) - Police in Madiun, East Java, have raided a number of hotels in the city in their efforts to fight vices ahead of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadhan.

The chief of Sabhara police unit of the city police, Adjunct Commissioner Baru Trisno, said here on Tuesday during the operations the police seized five unwed couples found in the rooms of the low-cost hotels.

"The police have arrested five couples outside wedlock staying in different hotels such as Hotel Dinar, Hotel Taman Asri and Hotel Taman Indah," he told newsmen.

He said the couples would be charged with violating articles on petty crimes.

"After they were taken to the Madiun city police station for data collection the couples will be taken to court. They have violated the city`s bylaw for allegedly committing immoral acts with their partners out of wedlock," he said.

Baru said the operations were done upon direct instruction from the police leadership as well as in respect to Muslim who are about to start their fasting month.

"We will conduct more similar operations during the fasting month so that Muslim could carry out their religious duty peacefully," he said.

Besides immoralities he said the operations were also done to anticipate against narcotics distribution, terrorism and other social illnesses.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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