lack of verification of Dehradun residents, especially those coming from various parts of Uttarakhand and from across the country, appears to be abetting crime in the district. Three property dealers who were shot dead in broad daylight by unidentified persons during the period of about a month had shifted to Dehradun after committing crimes in their native places.
The Raipur police said that Adhoiwala resident property dealer Sanjay Kumar Nagar who was shot dead in broad daylight by three unidentified persons on January 31 had shifted from Delhi to Dehradun two years ago. His real name was Anil and several cases were registered against him in various police stations of Ghaziabad, Noida and Delhi. In the murder case of 2005, he was sent to jail and secured parole in 2007.
In another incident, Haridwar resident and property Firoz Ali who had shifted to Dehradun was also shot dead by unidentified persons in his rented home in Jakhan (Rajpur) on January 16. Police are yet to ascertain the motive for this murder.
In Patelnagar, a property dealer Dharampal who had shifted from Baghpat to Dehradun four year ago was shot dead at his doorstep by two unidentified persons on Wednesday. Police said that Dharampal was also known to be involved in many controversial land deals. On being pressurised by the money lenders, Dharampal had shifted to Dehradun.
A 30-year-old Meerut (Uttar Pradesh) native Anuj Singh who was absconding from UP police committed suicide by shooting himself with his gun in his in-law’s home located at Jakhan here on January 15.
Armed persons without license or those with license valid in other states move frequently in the state capital and other parts of plain districts with the police remaining inactive. This has exposed the lack of police planning to deal with such murder cases and provide security to the residents of the State.
Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Rautela expressed disappointment at increasing murder cases in the state capital. “We admit that verification of residents especially those coming from various parts of the State and elsewhere has not been completed. In the past, police had conducted verification drives periodically. Dehradun is considered an education hub and the State capital so large number of people come here. It will take some time to complete the verification of the residents in the district,” he said.
Rautela said that all the police station officers have been directed to conduct verification drive periodically and ensure that they are completing verification of around 70-80 per cent of total population in their respective areas without delay.