With preparations for Ardh Kumbh Mela slated to begin in January next being underway, the spiraling crime-graph in Haridwar district has left the administration and police deeply worried. A crime case, be it murder, dacoity or sexual assault, is being reported almost every alternate day from the district, something that is deepening wrinkles on the brows of the different arms of the Government.
“We wonder whether the mounting crimes would prove a damper for the pilgrims who are expected to swarm into this holy city in millions during the grand religious congregation,” said a senior district administrative official. Police said that firearms are easily available here. “We are apprehending persons for carrying unlicensed firearms from various parts of the district daily,” said a cop.
Two days ago, an advocate was murdered. However, district police cracked the case and arrested the main accused promptly. In a shoot-out, two jewelers sustained bullet injuries on Saturday. Sounding worried over the possibility of rising crime-rate causing a significant dip in the footfall of the pilgrims, the leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly, Ajay Bhatt said things are really grim.
“What compounds things is the fact that police are pathologically disinclined to register FIRs in the police stations after the complaints are filed. What we are finding on the ground is that they are selectively registering those cases which they think they can crack and jockey for credit, he added.
Bhatt said his party had raised the worsening law and order scenario in the State during the last Assembly session. “But the State Government ridiculed and downplayed it, bragging that things here are far better than what they were when BJP was in power.
“This is a reprehensible stratagem to shirk responsibility. If Haridwar continues to erupt in crimes and the Government continues to fiddle this infantile thing would slur the fair image of the state, universally known as Devbhoomi,” Bhatt said.