22-9-2024 (JAKARTA) 7 bodies were discovered in the Bekasi River, prompting an immediate response from local authorities and raising questions about the circumstances surrounding their deaths. Jakarta Basarnas Chief Desiana Kartika Bahari provided details about the recovery operation, shedding light on the challenging terrain faced by rescue teams.
According to Bahari, the river’s depth varied significantly, with some areas reaching up to two metres deep. However, she noted that the specific location where the bodies were found was considerably shallower, measuring only about 10 centimetres in depth. “The contours are uneven,” Bahari explained to reporters at the scene in Bekasi on Sunday.
The Basarnas team continues to conduct thorough searches of the area to ensure no additional victims remain undiscovered. “We evacuate first, then we continue the search until we are certain there is nothing more to find,” Bahari stated, emphasising the team’s commitment to a comprehensive investigation.
Penemuan 7 Mayat remaja di kali Bekasi belakang PGP, di duga ada hubungannya dengan penangkapan pelaku tawuran. Para korban di duga kabur dan berusaha menghindari petugas kepolisian dengan melompat ke kali Bekasi, Jatiasih . pic.twitter.com/SxFs5HPvui
— Liputan Cikarang (@LiputanCikarang) September 22, 2024
Meanwhile, Inspector General Karyoto, Chief of Metro Jaya Police, offered a preliminary theory regarding the incident. Karyoto suggested that the seven individuals may have thrown themselves into the river out of fear during a police patrol. He linked the deaths to a possible brawl that occurred the previous night.
“According to brief information, this is related to an incident that happened last night,” Karyoto told reporters at the crime scene. “They appear to have thrown themselves into the river because they were afraid of a passing patrol or someone reprimanding them. We are currently investigating the full extent of this situation.”
Karyoto highlighted the seriousness of brawl incidents throughout the Metro Jaya Police jurisdiction, noting that many victims are often young people. He defended the police’s patrol strategy, stating, “We believe this patrol step is correct. The patrol was not wrong to pass by here, as it occurred at 3:00 AM local time.”
The police chief also pointed out that some of the victims were minors, while others were over 18 years old. However, he acknowledged that not all identifications had been completed at the time of the statement.
