137,000 Police Ready to Secure Situation before and after Idul Fitri

Jakarta (Antara) - About 137,795 police personnel are set to secure the situation in Indonesia before, during and after the celebration of Idul Fitri which will fall between July 28 or 29 this year, spokesman Brigadier General Boy Rafli Amar said here on Thursday. "Operation Ketupat will start in July 22 until August 6. We will work together with related officials to ensure the security Idul Fitri celebration this year," said Boy. The spokesman said the police personnel would be stationed to public places such as shopping malls, markets and other places with high number of people. Boy added a number of traffic police would be deployed to secure main roads used by homebound travelers. Boy predicted there would be 28 to 30 million who will make use the Idul Fitri holiday to visit their hometown this year. About 10,000 military troops, 7,795 officials from the Ministry of Transportation and 8,905 Public Order Police (Satpol PP) would also help the police to secure the Idul Fitri celebration in Indonesia this year. (*) Reporting by Yuni Arisandy Translating and Editing by Amie Fenia Arimbi