GUWAHATI, April 28 - Concerned at the growing incidents of theft and burglary in Guwahati even amid the lockdown, NGO Save Guwahati Build Guwahati (SGBG) has asked the police to keep law and order on top of their priority list.
The NGO has also urged the police to keep a watchful eye on the jail inmates released after the Supreme Court directive to decongest the jails of the country to check the spread of coronavirus.
SGBG cited two theft and burglary cases in the city�s prime localities Silpukhuri and Panbazar in the last few days, adding that such incidents raise serious questions regarding police efficiency.
On Monday night, miscreants entered the premises of Addaghar at Panchavati here and decamped with bell-metal utensils, big and small sorais and cash, besides leaving the premises in a mess. House of former Union Minister and MP Renuka Debi Barkataki, Panchavati�s ground floor has been developed as Addaghar, a place for meeting and recreation of senior citizens. A case has been filed at Chandmari Police Station by Minaxi Barkataki, daughter of Renuka Debi Barkataki.
In another incident, burglars broke open the doors of Dr Rupam Das�s Diabetes and Footcare Centre near Nakkota Pukhuri at Panbazar and stole some cash from the pharmacy on the night of April 15. Though the owners have submitted CCTV footage of the miscreants, a positive action is still awaited.
SGBG vice president and eminent social activist Ajoy Dutta said that the police must keep a strict vigil on persons with a criminal background released recently from jails. If the anti-social elements can have their way in the heart of the city amid such strict lockdown and restrictions, the citizens cannot be sure about their safety and security. Recently, two persons having criminal background were lynched by an irate mob in Baksa. The police must keep a record of day-to-day activities of the recently released jail inmates and take action to improve the overall law-and-order scenario in Guwahati, Dutta said.
SGBG president Krishno K Borooah also underscored the need to install adequate CCTV cameras in Guwahati under the Smart City project and repair the defunct ones. �There is a serious shortage of police personnel at the lower level. The government must take action on this considering it a top priority,� he added.
