60 soldiers go on rampage, set off smoke grenades
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/Frontpage/20031215075347/Article/
Sixty soldiers from Terendak Camp went on a rampage at a Bertam Ulu
low-cost housing area last night, setting off two smoke grenades,
damaging ve- hicles, smashing windows and injuring an off-duty
policeman and a civilian. The policeman and the civilian were given
outpatient treatment at the Malacca Hospital.
Armed with chains, helmets and sticks, the 15-minute rampage began
at 8.30pm and was believed to have been triggered by an assault on
a soldier on Friday night after an argument with a villager.
The soldier had apparently rammed his car into the villager's
fence. He demanded compensation and the argument escalated into a
fight. Other villagers got involved and beat up the soldier.
The man returned to the village at 2.45am yesterday with several
others. Another argument ensued, but the problem was settled
without incident.
However, at 8.30pm yesterday, he returned with 60 others, mostly
soldiers, in an army truck, cars and motorcycles, looking for the
villagers involved in the earlier argument.
The mob started smashing windows and doors of a house besides
breaking the windscreen of a car parked nearby.
Houseowner Noraini Adam, 49, said the men arrived at her house and
smashed the door and window panes and the windscreen of her
husband's car before two of them entered her house.
"I shouted at them that they were in the wrong house," she said.
"Later, they just left ...they did not harm my family." Noraini
said the men might have thought someone from her family was
involved in the earlier fight as it happened in front of her
house.
Stall owner Supiah Kasan, 39, said: "They were acting like madmen,
smashing up everything and chasing people. Those who tried to flee
were chased into their homes and also a nearby surau." Supiah said
there was panic when two smoke grenades were thrown near the food
stall. The rampage lasted about 15 minutes, after which the mob
left.
Malacca Tengah Criminal Investigation Department chief Deputy
Superintendent Dennis Lim said police had identified the
suspects.
Police have classified the case under Section 148 of the Penal Code
for rioting with weapons. The offence carries a maximum five years'
jail or fine or both. Police also recovered spent smoke grenade
canisters from the scene.
The authorities have arranged meetings between the Village
Development and Security Committee and the army camp commanders to
resolve the dispute.
©New Straits Times (M) Berhad
