Reach Ladakh
Skara Yokma, Airport Road,
Near Councillor Quarter,
India.
Cops urge residents to install CCTV cameras to prevent crimes Most cases go unreported because people want to avoid legal hassles
By Rinchen Angmo Chumikchan
LEH,
Nov 15, 2017
LEH :
The growing incidents of thefts in and around Leh areas have become a cause of concern for residents. Many village headmen allege that despite repeated theft cases in the town, the police have failed to nab and send the culprits behind the bars.
In the last two years, items worth ₹ 6, 33,248 were stolen in the outskirts of Leh, out of which items worth ₹1,93,846 were recovered. Every now and then, we hear about theft cases that take place in the outskirts of Leh.
According to reports provided by the Additional Superintendent of Police, Stanzin Losal, the police registered six theft cases in 2016. Out of these cases, three cases were challaned and three others were under investigation. The total stolen property is worth ₹ 3,32,320, out of which ₹ 67,230 worth of goods were recovered.
In 2017, eight cases were registered, three cases were challaned and five cases are under investigation. The total stolen property is worth Rs 3,00,928, out of which goods worth ₹ 1,26,616 were recovered.
Data shows the registered theft cases of the last four years:
|
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
Total |
|
07 |
08 |
07 |
08 |
30 |
Thefts still on the rise
However, according to our reliable sources, a house in Choglamsar was broken and property worth ₹ 16 to 17 lakh was stolen, out of which property worth of ₹ 5 lakh has been recovered in 2017.
In another theft case at Skara in the month of July, goods worth nearly ₹3 lakh were stolen, and nothing has been recovered yet.
Many more cases were reported in the recent months, including Chushot, Spituk, Phey and Phyang. According to Abdul Mirza, headman of Chushot village, 40 houses were burgled on different occasions in Chushot.
Similarly, Lobzang Tsewang, headman, Spituk, has informed that around 10 houses were burgled, including the monastery this summer, out of which one or two cases have been solved.
The primary reason for not reporting theft cases was to avoid getting into legal hassles. Most of the people do not report theft cases as they are not aware of the procedure of filing FIR at police station.
Common Cases
When asked about the common theft cases, ASP Losal said, “The most common theft cases included jewellery, electronic gadgets, and cash. In a few cases, heavy items like fridge are also stolen. They target the abandoned and isolated houses where the owners of the house are govt employees.”
He further added that most of the theft cases were reported during 12:00 to 3:00 pm. In most cases, the accused are of 18 -26 years.
Commenting on the increasing theft cases reported in Leh, he said, “The reason being the heavy influx of labourers from the neighbouring states. During the day time, they go to work and in the evening they target houses. In summer season, scrap collectors are here in Leh, and they select and identify their targets. Our people sometime give access to them in our houses and boundaries. This is when they identify their target. The houses that are abandoned remain as vulnerable as ever.”
Patrolling by Police
District police, Leh, is taking several steps and efforts to curb this problem. “We have increased patrolling, specially in the night from 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm. The 100 helpline number is being further strengthened to make it more effective”, he said.
He admitted that the thefts are taking place, and that police is doing their job to nab the culprits. The police are short-staffed and do not have enough infrastructure to cover all the areas at a time.
“We have given direction to the concerned SHO and Police station to intensify beat patrolling. As Leh town is divided into beats and the beat in-charge will intensify their beat patrolling. We are further doing verification of the labours,” he added.
Due to night patrolling, on the intervening night of November 4 and 5, Naka Party of District Police Leh, while checking vehicles, found 12 numbers of jerry canes filled with diesel. In this regard a case FIR NO. 90/2017 U/S 409,411 was registered in P/S Leh .Two people were arrested in the case and further investigation is underway.
In another case on the intervening night of November 8 and 9 patrolling party of police post Choglamsar during their routine patrolling of Saboo Thang found 14 pieces of wooden logs used for making bridge by the army. It was seized under section 550 CRPC and search for the person is going on.
The police also found 3 barrels filled with diesel and a case FIR No. 93/2017 U/S 409/411 was registered in Police station Leh. Two people were arrested in the case and further investigation is going on.
Appeal to people
According to the police, the carelessness of victims in most cases, such as giving access to scrap collectors, unknown people, etc. without safety measures, made theft easier.
“It is our appeal to people to get the verification of their tenants and labour with the local police station”, the ASP said.
He suggested that big business establishment or big shops could install CCTV cameras to prevent theft cases in future and also it would be easier for police to solve theft cases. Shopkeepers can contribute and install CCTV cameras in narrow lanes and by-lanes in areas like Moti market.
He asked the people to cooperate with the police and bring the incidents of thefts into their notice.
“One main challenge for the police to solve such cases is that our areas are not covered under CCTV cameras due to the vast scattered area and it is very difficult to give 24-hour coverage. Further, we have requested the MC to install CCTV cameras at strategic places. It is very difficult to cover every village, lanes and Mohalla as the jurisdiction is big. Despite the extreme temperature in winter, our police personnel are doing their duty.”
Besides well-lit streets at night, setting up of a well-equipped, efficiently-trained and a dedicated investigating agency to track and prevent thefts is also a must.
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