* People make bee-line in banks to seek lockers
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, July 15: The people from entire belt of Kathua and Samba districts are under the intense grip of panic and terror created by a big gang of thieves operating in the area for the last few weeks, giving them sleepless nights while the helpless villagers have now chosen to go for self-protection and now conducting night patrolling.
While the senior police officers of these districts have expressed their helplessness to provide enough police force for night patrolling in every village, they have started conducting series of public-police meets and creating awareness among the people. They also have intensified night patrol on the National Highway and on several link roads in Vijaypur, Ramgarh, Samba, Hiranagar, Kootah, Ghagwal, Rajpura, Rajbagh, Mareen, Kathua, Palli, Nagri, Lakhanpur and Billawar areas. The Village Defence Committees which had gone defunct are also being re-activated with the increasing threat of burglars.
With the increasing terror among the people, a large number of them have started seeking lockers in the banks to keep their jewellery and other valuables in the banks. A senior bank manager at PNB Kathua told the Excelsior that inquiries regarding getting lockers have increased in last two weeks and many of them have sought the facility. He said not in this bank but in other banks also like J&K Bank or SBI, many customers are approaching whereas, many braches have limited facility and they have now started to increase the capacity.
Reports said that the gang has well devised modus operandi. They come in vehicles and drop their gangsters at the village or a specific area where they conduct reccee during the day. The people during patrolling have also spotted these men and chased them away at Samba, Hiranagar, Rajpura, Chadwal, Kathua several other areas. Few days back they struck at Daboh in Samba, Sumba road on outskirts of Samba, in the house of Bodh Raj and Ram Pal in Hiranagar and at least three houses in and around Kathua. It has also been revealed that they move to the villages or particular area in the garb repair mechanic, cobbler, umbrellas repairer, replace utensils with old clothes etc. During this exercise they identity their target and then strike when there is power cut in the area. Most of these burglaries took place during power cuts.
Last night in a fresh major robbery, they struck in the house of one Rajinder Kumar at Karalian in Ramgarh ( Samba) and decamped with 40 tola gold and some cash. The SHO and other senior officers also paid visit to the house and also held meeting with the terrorised villagers. There is strong resentment among the villagers against the police and they alleged that it has failed to nab any member of the gang. The people allege that members of this gang are very tall and wear long shoes. They move very fast and after action flee in the vehicles.
DIG Jammu-Kathua Range, Shakeel Beig when contacted said that police was conducting series of meetings with the public. He claimed that he himself convened several meetings at Hiranagar, Kathua and Samba area. The people have been told to remain vigilant and inform police at Police Stations Police Posts or at Police Control Rooms if they notice any suspicious movement of a person in the area.
Mr Beig said that in view of the shortage of force, additional jawans have been withdrawn from District Police Lines. In some areas police jawans equipped with guns have been deployed with the local youth for guarding their respective areas. He said though at some places, it has been found that attempts were made by thieves but some rumours are also being floated by some vested interests just to create terror among the people. He said nakkas have been strengthened and surprise checkings are also being conducted to trap the members of the gang.
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