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Crime in the city

By The Assam Tribune

A spurt in crimes in the city in general and Fancy Bazar area in particular has emerged as a disturbing concern. The menace of petty crimes such as theft and snatching of mobile phones, jewellery, cash, etc., has been reported almost as a matter of routine, with the traders of greater Fancy Bazar area moving the administration to take urgent and effective steps against the perpetrators. A spurt in illegal settlements near railway tracks is being cited as a breeding ground for such criminal activities. The police needs to investigate the matter immediately and take action on the criminals. Drug pedalling is another serious concern in the area and more disturbingly, a section of local traders was also found to be involved in the nefarious activity, as corroborated by the arrest of a couple of businessmen a few months back. Indeed, the easy availability of contraband narcotics has assumed sinister propositions in the city and the authorities have been found to be completely lacking in tackling the scourge. This apart, crimes like burglary, theft, robbery, murder, rape and kidnapping have registered a rather high incidence in the State capital. Apparently, poor policing and sloppy investigation have made criminals shed their fear of the law and perpetrate their criminal acts with impunity. The incompetence of the Police Department is deep-rooted, and long-term reform and planning are imperative to make the forces respond to crimes with clinical efficiency.

As for the city, it is a fact that much of the city’s criminal and antisocial activities stems from its floating population. Be that as it may, the police need to pull up its socks and equip itself in the best possible manner to deal with the deteriorating situation. A thorough modernization of the men in khaki is a dire need. Today’s criminals being a smarter lot, it is imperative that the police keep on upgrading its skills and strategies to take them on successfully. While constraints such as manpower crunch, dearth of required technological assistance and overall modernization of the forces, etc., continue to hamper the functioning of the police, the low morale and the general complacent attitude of the police has not helped matters either. While crimes of all sorts have witnessed a spurt, equally conspicuous has been the failure of the police in putting some semblance of check in the deteriorating situation. The common man has little security in the city – something testified to by the spurt in crimes. Widespread corruption among the police as also the thriving police-criminal nexus, too, is having a negative impact on its functioning. Another imperative need is to have enhanced police-public interactions. If the public is vigilant and cooperates with the police, many acts of crime can be pre-empted. Citizens’ committees need to keep a close watch on the happenings in their respective localities and keep the police well-informed of any suspicious developments.

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