GUWAHATI, May 4 � It is not just the fatal road mishaps for which the national highways are feared. National highways that connect Assam with the rest of the country are slowly but surely becoming a hotbed for illegal activities like robbery.
Looting of goods-laden trucks and small vehicles has now become a common phenomenon and to policemen�s worry, the frequency of such incidents, too, is on the upswing.
�Transporters and truck owners are coming up with increasing complaints about looting of their vehicles and assault on the drivers, especially during night hours, the most affected being the NH 31 and NH 32,� a police official stated.
�These robbers operate in groups and if the passengers� complaints are to be considered, some of them even carry arms,� he said.
�Though it is difficult to categorise robbery incidents, there has been a rise in robbery cases on the NHs,� he pointed out, adding that in many cases the victims hesitate to report the incident out of fear.
A Guwahati-based trader, requesting anonymity, informed that these robbers use sharp iron contraptions to puncture the tyres of trucks at night and once the vehicle stops, they loot valuables at gun point.
Maintaining that there is a need to increase police vigilance on the highways, the trader rued that even �goonda tax� collection is one aspect that the administration should look at and react accordingly.
The threat of highway robbers came to light on Wednesday when Army personnel busted a gang of robbers in Assam�s Darrang district and even arrested four robbers with arms.
Acting on a specific input regarding movement of suspicious persons with weapon on NH 52 near Dhula, about 150 km from here, a team of security forces rushed to the area and apprehended the four miscreants. Army recovered a pistol with 14 live rounds, one dagger and sharp iron contraptions capable of puncturing tyres of vehicles. The group was reported to be involved in many highway robberies and was at large since a long time.
