JAIPUR: Talking over mobile phones or wearing gold chains while walking on street has become troublesome for city residents in the recent past.
Bike-borne assailants are fearlessly targeting people on streets. Wanton criminals come closer to their targets and decamp after snatching expensive mobile phones or gold chains. There has been a continuous spurt in the crimes, which are being reported from every part of Jaipur.
Poor policing like lack of patrolling and casual approach towards registering FIRs or investigating the incidents have contributed to the rise in petty crimes, which is leaving a bad impression of law and order in the state.
Former chief secretary Rajiv Mehrishi experienced the fearlessness of such criminals when his mobile phone was snatched away on the road in front of the University of Rajasthan in broad daylight.
“Until just few years ago, I remember there used to mobile PCR vans positioned at key points like the AC market, Raja Park, Hanuman Dhaba and near the water tank close to LBS college. Now, I hardly see any PCR van in these areas. I believe the presence of police in different areas works as a good deterrent against petty crimes,” said Kuljeet Singh, who owns a garment shop in Raja Park.
Since January 2021, the city has witnessed at least 18 registered cases of mobile and chain snatchings. In 2019, many women got injured in attacks by bikeborne chain snatchers.
“Earlier, it was seen that petty criminals shifted to different police station areas after getting arrested from a particular police station area. Now, petty crimes are being reported simultaneously from almost every part of the city. It has become a serious problem,” said Omendra Bhardwaj, former director general of police.
Residents of different colonies where the crimes were witnessed complained that poor police visibility on city roads is responsible for the increase in petty crimes.
“If you visit a police station as a victim of such crimes, the first thing that the policeman on duty asks you is if there was a CCTV nearby. I accept that CCTV is helpful in identifying and arresting the assailants, but why are there no policemen on streets? I would suggest that police should enhance patrolling and make arrests in the cases that are pending,” said a Murlipura resident, who did not wish to be named.