Bukit Aman task force to assist in temple riot probe

KUALA LUMPUR, 28 Nov (Bernama) -- The Bukit Aman national police headquarters is to set up a special task force to assist the Selangor police to hunt down more people behind the riots at a Hindu temple in the state last Monday and yesterday.

The police have so far arrested 21 people and are in the process of identifying who they actually are, said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun.

Several people, including a firefighter, were injured, about 20 cars were torched and a building was damaged during the riots early on Monday and yesterday in the vicinity of the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in USJ 25, Putra Heights, triggered apparently over the proposed relocation of the house of worship.

The police are also looking for the people who assaulted and injured policemen and firefighters, he said to reporters after launching a handbook on proof, prosecution and criminal investigation involving chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive agents, here.

Referring to a circulated claim that a policeman was involved in the riots, Mohamad Fuzi dismissed the allegation and said an investigation found that the individual has long been removed as a police volunteer reserve (PVR).

The IGP said the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple is under police guard and the police foiled an attempt by several people to start an incident last night.

“There was an attempt to trigger chaos last night but we brought the situation under control,” he said.

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday that the riots were criminal and were not racial or religious in nature.

--BERNAMA