Despite police assurances, crime graph heads north Jalandhar district

Avneet Kaur

Jalandhar, June 12

Tall claims of the police regarding stepping up vigil and tightening the noose around criminals appear to have hardly any impact as the crime graph has been rising steadily in the district.

Around six to seven incidents of firing have taken place in the district in the recent past. Besides cases of murder, attack, suicide, theft and snatching are becoming common and being reported on a daily basis.

The residents said earlier snatchers used to target people in deserted places but now they seem to have become more ‘confident’. “They easily take away gold earrings or chains from women standing outside their houses in posh localities or even if they are in crowded markets,” said Kamaljot, a teacher in a private school here.

She said the law and order situation is grim everywhere in Punjab. “Sandeep Ambian murder, Moosewala murder, killing of an NRI in Amritsar on Sunday and snatching incidents have instilled fear among the residents,” she added.

On Saturday late night, another firing incident was reported near Sodal road. As per information, gunshots were fired on Saurav and Gaurav, who were returning home after closing their shop around 12 midnight.

Two youths — Sunny and Sheru — who had been booked by the police before too in a case related to assaulting a migrant and waving a weapon on him, stopped the car of Saurav and Gaurav near Ramlila ground and started threatening them.

When Saurav and Gaurav tried to leave the spot, the accused opened fire on them and the bullet hit the trunk of their car. They then immediately fled from the spot.

Meanwhile, on hearing the sound of the gunshots, the locals informed the police. The in-charge of CIA Staff-1 Sukhjit Singh, SHO of police Division No. 8 and among other cops reached the spot and took control over the situation.

They said CCTV cameras installed in the area are being scrutinised and other evidence is being gathered. They said it seems to be a case of personal enmity. “The statements of both the youths have been recorded and the police teams are conducting raids at different locations to arrest them,” police officials said.

DCP (Investigation) Jaskaranjit Singh Teja said the city police have recently arrested the gangster Pancham Noor and his gang members for their involvement in the Gopal Nagar firing incident. “The accused of Basti Danishmanda incident, too, have been nabbed by the police. Even last night’s firing incident was nothing major but the police are leaving no stone unturned to nab the culprits. The car used by them has already been recovered by the police,” he added.

Recent cases

• Just three weeks ago, gunshots were fired on Congress leader Deepak outside his house in Shiv Nagar at Basti Danishmanda. He alleged that over 20 persons attacked him and two masked miscreants opened fire on him
• Similar firing incident was also reported in Gopal Nagar in the mid of April in which nearly 10 to 12 youths tried to kill a man. The three main accused involved in this firing incident are yet to be arrested by the police
• A firing incident was reported at Mohalla Satran in Basti Sheikh in the recent past. Two residents of Basti Sheikh clashed over an old rivalry and three bullets were fired, while no one was hurt
• A firing incident was reported near Dolphin hotel. The accused in the case was arrested on the spot
• An employee of Cantonment Board was attacked by over 10 men with sharp-edged weapons at Dussehra Ground.
• Ashwani Kumar (50), a carpenter by profession, was killed by his sister-in-law over property dispute at his house in Basti Sheikh Adda on May 9. The victim was attacked with a brick

Law and order collapsing in city

A number of snatching, firing, robbery and carjacking incidents have taken place in the past few months. The accused in the majority of these cases are yet to be traced by the police. The people are living in constant fear as the miscreants are roaming around without any fear of law. Law and order has completely collapsed not only in Jalandhar, but across the state. The government should do something to improve this situation and the accused must be put behind bars. — Sandeep Yadav, a bizman