JAMSHEDPUR: State health and disaster management minister Banna Gupta expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order in the Steel City.
When the minister, who is also the local Congress MLA from Jamshedpur West, asked about the recent major incidents of crime which included the loot of Rs 32 lakh in daylight in a busy market area of Bistupur and another robbery at an ornament shop in Sakchi market, Gupta agreed that the crime graph in the city is moving northwards.
On February 14, when employees of Chaganlal Dayaljee, were on their way to a nearby bank to deposit Rs 32 lakh, two bike-borne men wayalaid them on the busy main road, hit them with a pistol butt and escaped with the bag full of money.
The incident, which took place around 11am and at a stone-throw distance from the police kiosk near the ornaments shop, was captured on CCTV.
After nearly a fortnight, police are still clueless about those involved in this crime. Five days later, on February 19, in another incident, jewellery worth Rs 10 lakh was looted from a shop in Sakchi market area. The goons had entered the shop posing as cops and escaped with the ornaments. Police are clueless on this incident too.
Other than this, chain and mobile and stanching from locals is commonplace in some parts of the city where senior citizens and women are prime targets.
There has been a sharp rise in stabbing incidents and bike theft too in many parts of the city. Sources said the rising crime graph is linked to drug addiction and gambling, which is also a major problem.
Fear has gripped locals, many of whom avoid coming out of their houses after dark even after lifting of Covid curbs. Gupta during the weekly people-MLA contact programme at Tilak Pustakalaya on Saturday received a large number of complaints.
Gupta said he had discussed the matter with CM Hemant Soren and a solution is being worked out. He hinted if required there would be change of senior police officers in the district.
