Upon receiving complaints from residents about a rise in thefts and robberies during the COVID-19 pandemic, Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo has asked the police to take stern action against criminals, including by shooting suspects who attempt to evade arrest.

Ganjar said he had coordinated with Central Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Rycko Amelza Dahniel and Diponegoro Military commander Maj. Gen. Mochamad Effendi during a regional leadership meeting (Forkopimda).

“The police chief and military commander have said ‘leave security matters to us’. I told them not to hesitate when acting tough on a crime. If the criminal fights back, just shoot them,” he said on Wednesday.

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He added that it was important that no one took advantage of the pandemic situation to commit crimes.

He also suggested the people revive neighborhood watches both in cities and villages.

Ganjar denied that crimes that had occurred lately were committed by paroled prison inmates. “Many hoaxes have claimed that crimes were committed by inmates who are part of the assimilation program. It is my duty to provide those inmates with training,” he said.

He added that the Central Java administration had created a program dubbed Jogo Tonggo (neighbors look after each other), in which community members collaborate to manage food and security in response to the pandemic. (aly)