Jamshedpur: The Steel City is grappling with a surge in burglaries over the past few weeks, with peripheral areas bearing the brunt of the spike. Incidents like the recent thefts during Chhath at Jugsalai, Mango and Birsanagar have raised concerns among residents.
The Chhath festival, meant to be a time of joy and celebration, took a distressing turn for residents of Mahavir Colony under the Ulidih police station in Mango, as a wave of thefts unfolded in the midst of the festivities. The police, who had assured extensive preparations for the festival’s security, now face scrutiny and criticism for the apparent lapse.
In direct defiance of the police’s call to celebrate the festival without security worries, thieves targeted four houses and a shop within two days, taking advantage of what some residents perceive as an inadequate police presence. The bold thefts unfolded despite the police’s active preparations for Chhath.
Uday Singh, a resident of Mahavir Colony, returned from celebrating Chhath at Dimna Lake with his family to a shocking discovery. Thieves had broken into his home, making off with jewellery worth Rs 10 lakh and Rs 60 thousand in cash from cupboards and a box bed. The incident left Singh’s 65-year-old mother, Kalavati Devi, in a state of shock. The stolen jewellery had been purchased with careful consideration, keeping in mind Singh’s younger son’s engagement.
Next door, the house of Upendra Sharma was also targeted, with thieves breaking the main door but ultimately leaving empty-handed. The unfortunate incident has left the community shaken and frustrated, especially as it follows a previous theft in the neighborhood a month ago, with no discernible police action taken.
Ashok Patro, a neighbor, revealed that his house had suffered a theft a month ago, resulting in a loss of one lakh rupees. Despite reporting the incident and a subsequent attack with rods, no action was taken by the police. The community expressed their dissatisfaction, raising slogans against the police, alleging a lack of action on issues beyond theft, such as the open sale of illicit substances like brown sugar, ganja, and heroin in the locality.
Amid growing discontent, BJP leader Vikas Singh issued a stern warning, stating that if the thieves are not apprehended swiftly, the police station will face public protest and scrutiny. The incidents have underscored the need for a comprehensive review of security measures during festivals and a proactive response to community concerns to restore faith in the local law enforcement.
In the last one month alone, approximately 20 similar incidents have been reported across various residential colonies, with the highest concentration in the Olidiih and Jugsalai police station areas.
The police have asserted that they are intensifying night patrolling in affected zones to curb burglary incidents and are considering additional measures to address the escalating situation.
A deputy superintendent rank police officer stated, “All necessary measures, including special drives, will be implemented by the city police to curb robbery incidents.” However, despite these efforts, thefts and burglaries continue to plague the city, with several cases reported within the last 48 hours.
While the police claim success in arresting some individuals involved in reported cases, there is a recognition of the need to enhance nocturnal surveillance. Plans are underway to increase the movement of mobile police and strengthen vigilance, particularly in areas witnessing a surge in break-ins, thefts from vehicle carriers, pickpocketing, and residential robberies.
