Pasuruan Police Chief investigated for stampede incident

Source : The Jakarta Post

The East Java Police have launched an investigation into a possible procedural violation by top Pasuruan Police officials in relation to a stampede that killed 21 women Monday.

The top officials are Pasuruan Police chief, deputy chief and head of Pasuruan's intelligence division.

"The three officers will receive harsh sanctions if found that they were careless at carrying out their surveillance and security tasks in Pasuruan," East Java Police chief Ir. Ge. Herman Surjadi Sumawiredja told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

Herman said the violation was possible because the incident happened in an area only 1.5 kilometers away from Pasuruan Police headquarters.

"There was no way the police could miss 5,000 people gathering at the place," he said.

The stampede happened when thousands of residents gathered to receive Rp. 30,000 (US$3.21) from H. Syaikhon at a mosque in the city. Twenty-one victims died and 11 hospitalized from lack of oxygen and being trampled upon.

So far one suspect has been named, the son of Syaikhon, Faruq, for his responsibility in administering the handouts.