Jamshedpur: The city police and district administration are on high alert ahead of the proposed visit of President Droupadi Murmu, but that did not deter thieves from committing a daring burglary near the district headquarters. The theft has raised serious questions over ground-level security arrangements in the city.
On Saturday night, thieves targeted more than half a dozen roadside shops located barely 50 metres from the district headquarters, under the jurisdiction of Sakchi police station, near the Jubilee Park gate. The miscreants used gas cutters to break open shop locks and fled with cash and valuables.
The incident came to light on Saturday morning when shopkeepers arrived to open their stalls and found broken locks and scattered goods. Within minutes, a crowd gathered at the spot, creating panic and commotion in the area.
Shops belonging to Avinash Kumar (betel shop), Raja Kumar (momo stall), Pradeep Das (milk shop), Sadan Kewat (litti stall), Babunand (tea stall) and Vishnu (betel shop), among others, were affected.
The shopkeepers reported that cash, food items, gas cylinders, and other essential materials were stolen.
On receiving information, police from the Sakchi police station reached the spot and initiated an investigation. CCTV footage from nearby areas is being examined to identify the culprits. The incident, occurring so close to the district headquarters at a time of heightened security, has sparked concern among local traders and residents, who have demanded increased night patrolling and the immediate arrest of those involved.
