Bahu Fort residents block road to protest police inaction against rising vehicle thefts

People staging protest at Last Morh, Bahu Fort in Jammu.
People staging protest at Last Morh, Bahu Fort in Jammu.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 27: Dozens of residents of Bahu Fort hit the streets today to protest against alleged police inaction in tackling the increasing number of vehicle thefts in their area.
The protesters blocked road leading to Bawe Wali Mata Temple at Last Morh (Bahu Fort) for a while and raised slogans against Jammu and Kashmir Police for its failure to check increasing theft cases in the area. The protest was held after a Wagon-R car bearing registration number JK02BU-6626 was found to have been stolen from the area in the morning.
“The people are fed up of the repeated incidents of vehicle thefts being reported from the area,” one of the protesting people said, adding, till date around 10 vehicles have been stolen from the area but the Police has failed to trace even one of these vehicles despite the fact that there are two Police nakas and CCTV cameras are installed at several places.
“This is my second car which has been stolen. In the year 2017 also, my car was stolen from the same place. People are tired of the apathy of the local police force. Whenever a theft was reported, a complaint is lodged but the police rarely turn it into an FIR,” said the aggrieved person whose car was found to have been stolen this morning.
The protesting people demanded enhanced security and surveillance in the area by deputing more police personnel and installing more CCTVs so that the rising thefts in and around the area can be checked. People of all age groups including men, women and children participated in the protest.