The recent spate of burglaries in the State capital has raised much concern among residents. The City police have been accused of being lax in surveillance, especially during the late hours.
The alleged burglary spree reported in parts of Kowdiar, including Jawahar Nagar, over the last few months has brought the security measures of the police under the scanner.
The Jawahar Nagar residents have accused the Museum police of failing to act on their complaints, despite their handing over CCTV footage that purportedly captured the suspect in the midst of a break-in.
A resident who requested anonymity said that many victims had hesitated to register cases for fear of vengeance. “The burglar has so far targeted uninhabited houses. However, lives could be endangered if the residents were inside the houses during break-ins,” the source said.
The local community alleges that around 15 cases of break-ins and burglaries have taken place during the last few months. The locality, home to a large number of senior citizens, is feared to have become an easy target for habitual offenders. The situation existed despite the office of the Superintendent of Police, Crime Branch CID, functioning in the area.
No night patrol
According to Jawahar Nagar Residents’ Association secretary N. Jayakumar, they have repeatedly sought police intervention. “Sadly, they apparently have been waiting for further evidence. There were reasons to suspect that the suspect is being shielded by certain police officials,” he said, adding that no patrolling was being undertaken in the area.
District Police Chief (Thiruvananthapuram City) M.R. Ajith Kumar said steps would be taken to ensure greater vigil in the area.
The Federation of Residents’ Associations Trivandrum (FRAT) held the view that the reshuffles in the City police had taken a toll on the security system.
According to FRAT chairman M.S. Venugopal, many concerted steps that had been launched earlier to ensure surveillance had mostly come to an abrupt end. Janamaithri meetings had reduced to a namesake affair.
He said less than half of the residential areas came under the centralised CCTV surveillance network of the City police. With the Onam season nearing, the federation has demanded steps to intensify beat patrolling to curb crimes as many families were likely to be away during the holidays.