Robberies go on unabated, make city residents fearful

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 19

The unabated incidents of robberies and snatchings have not only raised a question mark on the police functioning, but also pointed out that there has been no fear of law among the criminal elements who are carrying out their nefarious activities continuously. This had instilled a sense of fear among residents, especially the trading community and the women folk.

Though the police hold rampant drug abuse behind repeated instances, residents say that it is the responsibility of the police to take appropriate steps in nailing those behind such incidents.

On Monday, armed persons looted a gas agency cashier, Bharat Bhushan, of Rs 8.8 lakh. They assaulted him with sharp weapons and left him seriously injured. He was admitted to a hospital. The gas agency is owned by a prominent BJP leader, Anuj Sikka, who has demanded immediate arrest of the suspects.

Criticising the police, Sikka pointed out that police, which have the primary duty of providing security to the people, have failed to maintain law and order. Unscrupulous elements are striking at their will in broad daylight. They have no fear of the law forcing agencies.

On June 15, unknown persons shot dead a finance company’s area manager, identified as Gurpreet Singh, in a robbery bid in Rayya. The police are still clueless. Similarly, employee of another finance company, Manjit Singh, was looted of Rs 50,000 from Ranjit Avenue by armed looters.

Three unknown persons had robbed a goldsmith family in Mohan Nagar a week ago. Though the police nabbed four persons in the case, the incident led to a panic among residents as well as the goldsmith community.

In another incident, a cop was looted by unknown person from an ATM cabin at gunpoint on June 11.

On May 30, a trader was looted of Rs 3 lakh near Verka when he, along with his companion, was going to Kangra for a business meeting. The victims lodged a complaint on June 8 after returning from Kangra.

Mukhwinder Singh Bhullar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigations), said the city police were doing their job. “We have arrested four persons for the recent sensational robbery at a goldsmith’s residence in Mohan Nagar. Snatchings and robberies are a major problem and we are doing everything possible to nail them. After coming out of jail, they indulge in nefarious activities again. Drug addiction is a major reason behind this,” he said.

Amritsar (Rural) SSP Vikramjit Singh Duggal said rampant drug abuse and unemployment were behind such incidents. “Drug addicts are committing robberies to make quick bucks for their daily dose of drugs. The rural police have arrested many robbers in the past and investigations are on to crack the pending cases,” he added.