Day by day, the law and order situation is deterioratingnin the Steel City here. Dacoity, snatching and murder have become routine incidents, while police inaction has not only raised eyebrows, but put a question mark on the cops’ efficiency.
Sources said on many occasions, the businessmen or their workers are targeted by the snatchers or looters while they are on way to their offices or work site after withdrawing money from bank.In an incident under Raghunathpali Police Station, a group of six dacoits forcibly entering into the house of Dr PR Parida, locked his family members and security guard in a room on March 22 last at about 6.30pm and looted the jewellery and money.
Just within three days of this incident on March 15, some dacoits looted Rs 6 lakh from one Prabhat Barik, an employee of the Jagannath Transport on gunpoint at Vedavyas Shaw Mill Chowk under Brahmani Taranga Police station. In another incident, one Saraswati Bhumij of Ruptola, Balughat under Raghunathpali who after drawing the money from Canara Bank, Uditnagar boarded an auto rickshaw to Ruptola Chowk and from their while was walking to her home, two bike-borne youths appeared on the scene and snatched away her bag carrying Rs 2.5 lakh on April 28. Similarly 7-8 months ago, while two contractors were returning after withdrawing Rs 5 lakh from Canara Bank, they were also targeted and looted of the cash by two bike borne youths under Uditnagar Police Station. So far, the police have not made any headway in any of the cases.
In another incident under Sector-7 Police Station on April 30 last evening, while two women of Sector-6 B Block were going to their home in a rickshaw, two bike- borne youths also snatched away the necklace of a woman.In each incident, a common reply comes from the police i.e. very soon the culprit will be arrested.A couple of months ago, under Sector-15 Police Station, a dacoity was held in broad day light in the house of a senior RSP officer at Sector-17 which is just 50-100 meters away from the police station.
Satta (gambling) is another problem in the Steel City. At Basanti Colony, despite resentment and protest from the local inhabitants, an RSP employee openly is running a satta centre near Pani Tanki area. Though on many occasions, the locals have approached the police seeking action against the satta organizers, but in vain. Sources said without any hindrance, the satta centre runs every day from 9 am to 7 pm.