Three gaps in the railway fence along Jalan I Gusti Ngurah Rai in Pondok Kopi Urban Village, Duren Sawit, East Jakarta, have been sealed as part of ongoing efforts to prevent street brawls.

The openings were closed after authorities suspected they had been used by groups of teenagers to cross the railway tracks and engage in street brawls near Jalan I Gusti Ngurah Rai.

Pondok Kopi Urban Village Head Sandy Alamsyah said the three railway fence openings had long been suspected of being used by rival youth groups involved in street brawls.

Based on information received by the urban village administration, the groups involved in the recent clashes were believed to be from Pulogebang and Penggilingan urban villages, who confronted a group from Bintara, Bekasi City, West Java.

"Those involved in yesterday's brawl were not Pondok Kopi residents. It just happened in our area. That's why we decided to close the openings in the railway fence today," he said on Friday (7/24).

Sandy said the three openings, which total about 20 meters in length and 2 meters in height, are being blocked with corrugated metal sheets reinforced by bamboo and concrete foundations.

"Of the three openings, work is currently being prioritized at two locations, while the remaining one is expected to be completed tomorrow," he explained.

He hopes closing the openings will help prevent future street brawls while discouraging teenagers from using the fence gaps to cross the railway tracks.

"We hope that by closing these openings, there will be no more street brawls in our area," he asserted.

Sandy added that the administration chose corrugated metal reinforced with bamboo and concrete as the most effective solution.

"We didn't use lightweight concrete blocks because they can be broken through easily. We also avoided iron fencing because it could be cut with a saw," he said.