Tito said he had instructed all precinct police station chiefs in Jakarta to conduct raids on SOTR parties to check vehicle documents and equipment, including helmets, vehicle licenses (STNK) and driving licenses (SIM), as well as to check for alcohol and drug use.

He also asked residents and public figures in Jakarta to keep an eye on young people in their respective areas and report any indications of misbehavior .

'€œThe youths claim that SOTR aims to awaken people for sahur, but they do it on main thoroughfares, such as Monas and Kota Tua in Central Jakarta. Who are they looking to wake up in those areas?'€ he asked.

SOTR is intended to promote giving and sharing with the needy during the holy month. Participants gather in large groups and roam the streets, distributing free meals to homeless people.

The activity is also seen as a change to strengthen bonds, to meet old friends and to make new ones.

However, some participants have abused the opportunity to indulge in antisocial behavior.

The police'€™s plan to step up monitoring of the activity follows reports of brawls in several parts of the city during the first two weeks of the holy month.

A brawl between SOTR motorcycle convoys in Mampang, South Jakarta, occurred at dawn on Monday. At the same time, fighting was seen near Blok M Plaza in South Jakarta and on Jl. Gajah Mada in Central Jakarta.

The police were quoted by tribunnews.com as saying that some of the participants were found in a drunken state.

In the first week of Ramadhan, a brawl occurred between two youth gangs engaged in SOTR in Taman Suropati, Menteng, Central Jakarta, which led to a young man sustaining a head injury after being struck with a motorcycle helmet.

The incident happened at dawn. Two gangs, comprising around 30 members, had convened in the Taman Suropati parking area for SOTR. Jibes were exchanged, escalating into mass violence.

The Jakarta Police had previously warned the public about the potential abuse of SOTR, highlighting several districts and areas prone to fighting.

Force spokesman Sr. Comr. Mohammad Iqbal mentioned several critical locations in the capital, including Kali Baru and Cilincing in North Jakarta, Menteng Tenggulun in Central Jakarta, Manggarai, Pasar Rumput and Tebet in South Jakarta, Tambora in West Jakarta and Pasar Rebo and Cawang in East Jakarta.

Meanwhile, the MUI warned against the abuse of SOTR, which, it said, necessitated good intentions.

'€œSahur is a holy ritual. Don'€™t misuse it for bad intentions that endanger others,'€ urged MUI vice secretary-general Amirsyah Tambunan.

Tito, meanwhile, insisted that the police were not looking to ban or regulate SOTR activities, stating that all that was required of participants was to obey traffic laws and avoid violence and antisocial behavior.

'€œSOTR is a very good activity. Let'€™s do it the way it should be done,'€ he said. (foy)

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