National Police spokesperson Brig. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar said on Thursday that the security program, labeled Operation Ketupat, would take place between July 22 and August 6, as reported by Antara news agency.

"The Indonesian Military will assist us by deploying 10,000 personnel. We will also be working with the Public Order Agency in every region, and with officials from the Transportation Ministry," he said in Jakarta.

Boy explained that the police would be taking precautionary measures by increasing security at business and shopping centers because of the rise in communal activities during the last few days of Ramadhan. 

Furthermore, the police are set to prioritize security measures for the northern coastal highway (Pantura) because it is the main route that most people in Java take to visit their hometowns.

"The number of people visiting their hometowns increased by 11 percent compared to last year. This year there are around 28 to 30 million people visiting their hometowns and we are prioritizing the security of Pantura because the highway is vulnerable to security threats at this time of year," Boy said.

Previously, National Police chief Gen. Sutarman said that the police were ready to maintain the security of Pantura in anticipation of Idul Fitri. He also urged people to refrain from riding motorcycles to their hometowns for the sake of safety. (fss)

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