Tragedy on the Highway: Police and Victims Entangled in Shooting Incident at Tangerang-Merak Toll Rest Area

Police Reject Allegations of Rejecting Victim’s Assistance in Toll Road Shooting

The Jakarta Post, Wednesday, 3 January 2025

A shooting incident at a rest area on the Toll Road between Tangerang and Merak left one person dead and another injured. The family of the victims claimed that the police had refused to assist them in chasing down the suspect’s vehicle. However, the head of the Cinangka Police Sector (Polsek) denied the allegations, stating that they had not acted rashly and were committed to finding the truth.

Rizky Agam S, the son of the deceased, Ilyas Abdurrahman (48), revealed that he had sought the assistance of the Cinangka Police to track down the suspect’s vehicle after a heated argument on the toll road turned violent. The family believed that the police had refused their request for pendampingan, or accompaniment, due to a lack of sufficient personnel.

"I really hoped that the police could help us chase down the suspect’s vehicle, but unfortunately, they rejected our request," Rizky said at the Indonesian Islamic Cemetery (TPU) Mekarsari Dalam, Rajeg, Kabupaten Tangerang. "We had no choice but to chase after the car alone, leading to the tragic consequences you see today."

However, the head of the Cinangka Police Sector, AKP Asep Iwan Kurniawan, disputed Rizky’s claims. According to Asep, the police had not refused the family’s request for assistance. The family had failed to provide adequate information about the vehicle they were pursuing, making it difficult for the police to act promptly.

"A team of officers was indeed dispatched to investigate the incident, but we needed more information to proceed, such as the make and model of the vehicle, the license plate number, and the exact location of the incident," Asep explained. "We are committed to assisting the family in their pursuit of justice, but we cannot do so recklessly at the risk of endangering our officers and other civilians."

The police have since been investigating the incident and are working to identify the suspect. The family has been cooperative in providing information and assisting the police in their investigation.

In an unrelated incident, the family of the other victim, R (59), who sustained minor injuries, has expressed their gratitude towards the police for their swift response and assistance in providing medical care for their loved one.

This story is still developing, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.