"We also recorded higher criminal cases including 125 motor vehicles stolen."Surabaya (ANTARA News) - The East Java police said at least 85 people had been killed in traffic accidents during three week of the fasting month in East Java.
Every year, millions of Muslims working in large cities such as Surabaya and Jakarta return to their home towns or villages to celebrate the Islamic holy days of Idul Fitri with their relatives on August 20.
Many of them having no own cars drive motorbikes as it is difficult to secure train, bus and air tickets contributing to the many highway traffic accidents .
"It is the data we collect from July 20 to August 9 or in three weeks," East Java police spokesman commissioner Hilman Thayib said here on Wednesday.
During the three weeks in addition to the dead victims, there were 112 people seriously injured and 429 suffering minor on injuries, Hilman said.
"We also recorded higher criminal cases including 125 motor vehicles stolen, 82 robberies and 36 cases of violence," he said.
More accidents and criminal cases are expected but unconfirmed data showed a decline, he said.
"The decline was thanks to police operations in highways," he said, adding he hoped the number of dead victims would be smaller this year compared with the previous years.
(Uu.AS/H-ASG/O001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
