Shopkeepers, residents protest rise in theft cases, block highway in Bargari

Tribune News Service

Bargari (Faridkot), February 20

Residents and shopkeepers of Bargari town in Faridkot on Thursday protested and blocked the Amritsar-Bathinda national highway to register their anguish against the recent spate of theft, snatching and drug-related incidents in the area.

Scores of residents and shopkeepers assembled on the national highway and raised slogans against the local police for their alleged "apathy".

"In the last about one month, Rs 2.5 lakh was snatched by two ‘masked’ persons from a shopkeeper here and there were many other cases of snatching, theft at houses and of items like stereos, tyres and other accessories from vehicles have taken place in this area but the police have failed to do anything," fumed the residents.

The protesters threatened to continue the protest till they were given assurance that the culprits would be nabbed.

Keeping in view the anger of protesters, Metab Singh, ASP, reached the spot and assured them that the police would take action following which the protest was withdrawn.

The protesters alleged that the thieves were having a free hand in committing thefts as police patrolling was not effective and the staff on night patrolling were unable to prevent thefts or keep a watch over anti-social people.

"Youths can be seen taking drugs in bylanes and in their vehicles without any hesitation, since police presence is negligible. Also, free access leads to entry of anti-social elements in crimes like snatching, because there are no police barricades or patrolling,” alleged the protesters.