Cops form special team to hunt down rioters
Bukit Aman has formed a special task force to hunt down rioters who were involved in the Tuesday morning troubles near the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Subang Jaya.
Speaking to reporters in Kuala Lumpur today, inspector-general of police Mohamad Fuzi Harun said the special task force from Bukit Aman has been dispatched to assist the Selangor police in identifying the rioters...
Bukit Aman has formed a special task force to hunt down rioters who were involved in the Tuesday morning troubles near the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Subang Jaya.
Speaking to reporters in Kuala Lumpur today, inspector-general of police Mohamad Fuzi Harun said the special task force from Bukit Aman has been dispatched to assist the Selangor police in identifying the rioters.
The rioting on Tuesday morning had caused property damages and left a Fire and Rescue Department personnel Muhammad Adib Muhammad Kassim seriously injured.
Unrest near the temple began during the wee hours on Monday after a group of 50 masked individuals attacked the temple and held some of its caretakers at knifepoint.
They were chased out by supporters of the temple and a riot ensued.
The subsequent day, police arrested some of the intruders and staff of One City Development Sdn Bhd - the company that is trying to gain control of the land where the temple is located.
They were among the 19 who were remanded yesterday.
After news of the attack by the masked group spread, thousands of ethnic Indians had gathered near the temple on Monday night.
The violence began shortly after midnight.
Several vehicles that passed by the temple were damaged and a mob attacked Fire and Rescue Department personnel who tried to put out a fire.
Another mob attacked MCT Bhd's offices nearby. MCT Bhd is the owner of One City Development Sdn Bhd.
Fuzi told reporters yesterday that they had not used force to disperse the rioters to prevent a possible escalation of the situation.
At the time of writing, the number of arrests involving those taking part in the Tuesday morning riots is unknown.
Meanwhile, Fuzi confirmed that there was a member of the police volunteer reserve (PVR) who was involved in the riots.
"We've checked and he is not a (full-fledged) member of the police... He was a PVR who had been terminated at some point," he said.
Fuzi was responding to claims that a police personnel was among those involved in the riots.
