Jakarta – The West Jakarta Social Affairs Agency raided at least 30 street singers donning punk attire, locally known as punkers, during an operation held over the weekend.

The authorities netted the youngsters because, according to officials, punkers often used intimidating gestures to ask for cash from passengers of public transportation, creating anxiety among residents.

The unemployed youngsters were part of a total of 70 people with social issues raided over the past week, all of whom were transferred to Bina Insan Bangun Daya social shelter in Kedoya, West Jakarta.

"They have made residents anxious because they often appeared intimidating," shelter head Ahmad Dumiyani said as quoted by beritajakarta.com on Sunday.

Dumiyani said the youngsters netted were mostly under 20 years old. He also alleged that some of them were drug users. "If proven, we will transfer them to the Khusnul Khotimah rehabilitation center in Pamulang," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/01/12/punkers-netted-during-city-raids.html