One of the group’s administrators, identified as YS who is a student at SMK Purnama vocational school, said the group had been established in July to allow members to plan the days when they would skip school.

“We used it to set the time and location. We always gathered at a juice shop in Mojosongo," he said as quoted by tribunnews.com.

YS added that it was the first time he had initiated a truancy group and promised he would not do it again.

The head of public order and peace at Surakarta Satpol PP, Agus Siswuryanto, said given the incident, raids on truant students would become more common.

"From now on, our members will conduct raids every morning," he added.

Agus said Satpol PP would first call the arrested pupils’ parents and teachers and then take them to homeless shelters. "We want to show them what could happen to them if they continue to skip school.”

In the future, he said, Satpol PP would raid establishments, like internet shops, where the students usually gathered during school hours.

“If we catch them there, we will also give the owners a warning,” Agus added.

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