E.M. JOSE
Shillong, May 19 : The Meghalaya capital is witnessing an unprecedented surge in petty crimes despite a decline in militant activities.
Other than petty crimes, which include burglary, snatching and stealing, among others, there is also a rise in murder cases and incidents of assault on the outskirts of the city.
Moreover, rape, molestation and car-lifting are also on the rise.
A senior Meghalaya police official, while attributing this to the floating population, said criminals were committing these crimes after getting out on frequent bail.
The superintendent of police (city), M. Kharkhrang, gave an example of a case which occurred on May 10 involving a “habitual criminal”, Ricky Swer, who was arrested on earlier occasions and obtained bail.
Swer was caught by Laitumkhrah residents while attempting to snatch a gold necklace from a resident, Bahunshisha Mukhim, at Laitumkhrah parking lot.
Another cause of concern is the floating population.
“We have witnessed several cases, in which the criminals came from Guwahati to Shillong,” Kharkhrang said.
A case in point is that of a criminal gang from Assam, members of which snatch bags from bank customers by spitting chewed biscuits on people and distracting them.
Youngsters are also included in the gang to avoid suspicion.
After many such cases were reported, the police arrested a four-member gang on May 2.
The gang, originally from Cooch Behar in Bengal, used to return to Guwahati after committing the crime here.
Tourists are easy targets for these criminals. Recently, a tourist went to Laitumkharh cathedral and when she returned to her parked vehicle, several of her belongings, including money, were missing.
The superintendent of police said the rise in petty crimes was alarming and urged the people for their support.
Kharkhrang said he had asked all the police stations to be sensitive to the plight of the people affected by petty crimes. “We want the personnel in the various police stations not to wait for the victims to report the case so that they can take any action. Instead, they should take proactive steps,” the police official said.
According to Kharkhrang, the police had organised several rallies of the village defence parties in parts of East Khasi Hills to create awareness on the need to help the police in containing these petty crimes. He said improved police-public relations could change the trend.
The East Khasi Hills police have also asked various police stations to zero in on vulnerable areas of Shillong where crime is rampant so that constant patrolling could be initiated in those places.
With seizure of drugs and arms from various localities of Shillong, including Nongmynsong, Madanriting and Laban, in the past, the police wanted the residents and headmen to get detailed information of people staying in rented houses in these areas.
Analysing the reasons for the rise in petty crimes, the police official said it was the lure of easy money which compels many to commit these crimes.
“I will not say lack of employment opportunities is the reason. The goons, who do not want to work hard, resort to petty crimes. This is a bad trend,” Kharkhrang said.
He said many juveniles were out on the streets resorting to petty crimes and this might be because of broken homes.
After assuming office in the early part of last year, chief minister Mukul Sangma had convened a meeting of police officials to address the rise in petty crimes, but no follow up action was taken.