M A I N   N E W S

Robberies, snatchings on the rise in Punjab, Haryana
Prabhjot Singh
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 27
Robberies and snatchings are costing Punjab and Haryana Rs 1.5 lakh a day, a human life every ninth day, besides leaving a victim grievously injured every other day.

This alarming increase in crime, more in cities, has put the police forces in the region on the defensive, making them sit together to work out an inter-state joint strategy.

Though the incidents of snatching and robbery are more in Punjab, especially in Patiala, Sangrur and Jalandhar districts, followed by Ludhiana, in Haryana, the districts bordering Delhi and Uttar Pradesh are facing the wrath.

The major worry for the police has been free use of lethal weapons, including firearms, in all these incidents where the prime motive is to attack pre-determined targets with an intent to rob him or her.

Only yesterday, an industrial worker was injured after Rs 6.75 lakh was snatched away from him at Dhandari Kalan in Ludhiana. A day earlier, a jeweller was shot in Amritsar in an attempt to rob him.

On May 7, a young petrol pump owner was killed and his companion wounded after they were waylaid and robbed of Rs 4 lakh at Siora village in Ahmedgarh (Sangrur district).

On April 20, a commission agent, Suresh Kumar, was shot and cash totalling Rs 3.20 lakh he had withdrawn from a bank, was taken away by the assailants in Nawanshahr.

As of now, most of the 799 cases of snatching and robbery (registered in Punjab last year and 202 cases registered this year so far have remained unsolved. In Panipat, the police has offered a cash reward of Rs 10,000 to anyone giving a clue to the gang(s) involved in such incidents. In all, besides 33 victims losing their lives, it cost them Rs 2.33 crore as well. Besides, 120 victims were left injured.

Last week, senior police officers of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh joined deliberations in working out a joint strategy to tackle this problem which has been a cause of concern not only for the governments but also the people, especially businessmen, who move around with heavy cash.

The targets in most cases have been wayside petrol stations, commission agents, industrialists and traders, bank and other government employees carrying cash for disbursement of salaries.

Only in a handful cases, the residences of rich and affluent families have been targeted.

In Haryana, Panipat has been the major centre for snatchings and robberies.

On May 25, a contractor of Panipat, Vijay Singh, was shot at in Sector 16 and the miscreants decamped with jewellery and cash while his wife sustained injuries. On the same night, 65-year-old Mewa Singh was done to death in Kachroli village by five assailants in an attempt to steal his tractor.

In yet another incident on the same night, Mewa Ram and Rajesh were injured seriously when the assailants struck at their house in Nimbri village and decamped with jewellery and cash. On May 24 miscreants seriously injured businessman Radhye Shyam and his wife, Suman. On May 17, miscreants carrying a countrymade pistol struck at a house in Sanoli village and decamped with Rs 45,000. On May 14, a shopkeeper was shot at in Nibri village.

On April 9, a dacoity took place in Adarsh Nagar where seven armed persons injured four members of a family seriously and decamped with valuables, including jewellery, cash and other household items worth lakhs. The injured included Vinod Suneja, his wife, Indu, son Lovesh and daughter Rima, who were admitted to a private hospital.

On April 1 an 18-year-old son of an industrialist was stabbed to death while four other family members sustained serious injuries when five assailants armed with weapons attempted a robbery in their house in Phase-2 in Panipat.

— with inputs from Kiran Deep (Panipat)