Violence erupted in the normally volatile neighbourhoods of Rockfort and August Town in the eastern end of the Corporate Area yesterday, causing the early closure of the August Town Primary School and a fiery protest in Rockfort.

Last night, Superintendent Assan Thompson, the commanding officer for the Kingston Eastern police division, told the Observer that the police had intensified their presence in the Rockfort area and were going after the main perpetrators of the violence.

“We have identified 15 players from both sides,” said Thompson. “We’re not targeting the community. We’re going after the main troublemakers.”

Thompson’s comment came after placard-bearing residents yesterday blocked sections of Norman Road, Lucas Road and Norman Crescent – parts of upper Rockfort – claiming police bias in the arrest Sunday of People’s National Party activists George Flash, Anthony ‘Tigo’ Brown and a man known only as ‘Mendez’, among other persons.

The protesters demanded that the police arrest other prominent activists from the other side of the community known as lower Rockfort.

“Only man from this side them a arrest. Dem bias,” one female protester bellowed. “What happen to the big man dem who over dat side a instigate people life?”

But the police say they have been carrying out their duties without prejudice.

“We have been carrying out our duties impartially, the section of the community does not matter to us,” said Inspector Alphanso Morris, head of the Rockfort Police Station.

Morris said the police had made arrests and recovered arms, ammunition, bulletproof vests and ski masks in both sides of the community.

Last night, Superintendent Thompson told the Observer that his men had recovered three high-powered rifles, one handgun and more than 300 rounds of ammunition since late September.

Earlier yesterday, Deputy Commissioner of Police Mark Shields had told the Observer that Flash, Brown, ‘Mendez’ and the other men were arrested based on information gathered by police investigators.

“They were arrested based on information that they are behind several homicides in the area,” Shields said. “They have not yet been charged.”

According to Shields, more arrests were expected.

Yesterday, Member of parliament for East Kingston and Port Royal, Phillip Paulwell hinted, through a release from his publicist, that a meeting was being arranged between himself, Security Minister Peter Phillips and Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas to establish a ‘strong and sustained [police] presence’ in the troubled community.

No date was given for the proposed meeting.

Late last month, a lull in fighting was shattered when eight persons were shot dead and eight others, including four women, were shot and injured. Two gangs, known to be based in both sections of Rockfort, have resumed a war which has left law-abiding residents cowering in fear.

Last Friday, gunmen shot 26 year-old Serieta Ballentine seven times, a short distance from the Rockfort Police Station. Ballentine ran and collapsed almost in front of the police station. Some of the protesters say Ballentine was accused of being an informer and blamed men from lower Rockfort who, they say, target women.

As the residents complained to members of the media, heavy gunfire was heard coming from the hills, forcing them to scamper for cover as police on the scene nervously cocked their weapons.

Police say they have intelligence that the gangs in Rockfort have a large cache of arms and bullets and are able to arm up to 60 men with high-powered rifles all at once.

The police say they are looking for Richard Miller, also called ‘Wormy’ and another man known as ‘Charlie Wap’ in connection with a number of homicides in the area.

Last night, Superintendent Thompson countered a statement reported on radio as coming from the police that residents were being advised to leave the community because the police could not guarantee their protection.

“If that statement was made, I would consider it reckless,” said Thompson. “It is not in keeping with the mission of the police force, which is to serve and protect the citizens.”

Thompson said that as part of the police’s effort to contain the violence, he had set up a meeting for tomorrow at 11:00 am with the Peace Management Initiative.

Earlier in the day, heavy gunfire erupted in August Town, leaving 25 year-old Neil Bolton dead and forcing the closure of the August Town Primary School.

“The teachers and students are terrified, gunshots were being fired and the students were running up and down,” an official at the school told the Observer.

Police say Bolton, who lived in Bedward Gardens, was shot eight times in reprisal for the murder of a man last week.

According to the cops, gangs based in Bedward Gardens, popularly called ‘Cross The River’ and Goldsmith Villa, known as ‘Angola’, were at loggerheads.

The cops say heavily armed gunmen challenged a police foot patrol in bushes in Bedward Gardens.

Yesterday, tension was evident on the faces of the few residents who braved the danger and ventured onto the street. Most businesses, with the exception of a few bars, were closed.

One resident described the state of the community.

“Everybody under siege,” the resident said as he peered fretfully along August Town Road.

The Jamaica Urban Transit Company yesterday pulled its buses from the August Town route.

-walkerk@jamaicaobserver.com