Lahore: Metropolis sees surge in crime

[Naveed Yaseen]

By Arshad Dogar
Crime rate once again surged by 20 percent in the provincial metropolis during the last week as 196 crime incidents against property were registered while during the week before the last week only 159 incidents were reported.

The rate of crime should remarkably fall because of intensive patrolling during the holy month of Ramzan, especially during Sehar and Iftar timing but the data presents a contradictory picture.

A daring thieve broke into the house No 350/3-C-I Township during the last week and took away a Honda 125 motorcycle at around 4 am. The police was duly informed but it reached more than one and a half hour late. The relevant officials calmed down the victims saying that they were busy in doing Sehri.

On the other hand, the Model Town division has topped the other five divisions in high crime rate with 46 reported incidents of street crime and house robberies. Data available with The News has revealed that around 8 cars and 9 motorcycles were also stolen or snatched from the Model Town division during the last week which was 15 percent high as compared to the week before the last week.

The Model Town Division was on 3rd number during the week before the last week whereas this division remained on 4th or 5th number in the month of July this year. But during the last week, this division topped the other five divisions due to reason best known to the police top brass.

Around 6 persons including two women were also shot injured during the last week in Model Town division which is shocking for the locals and a question mark for the commander of the Lahore Police.

This time Gulberg police kept itself aloof from street crime and house robberies as around 4 persons including two women were shot injured and more than 7 persons were deprived of cash, gold ornaments, cars and motorcycles.

The trend of crime also remained violent as two persons were shot dead while total 8 persons were shot injured on offering resistance during the last week. The city division remained 2nd with 43 registered incidents against property while two persons including a youth were shot dead by dacoits on offering resistance.

Out of total incidents, 7 motorcycles and one car was also stolen from the jurisdiction of the City division.

Robbers killed a youth on his mobile shop on Sandah Road in the limits of Islampura police station to avenge the victim. The victim had once arrested the alleged dacoits’ accomplice during a dacoity bid and tortured them. Islampura and Sandah police kept deciding the limits on the day of incident while the robbers managed to escape from the area. The police are still clueless about the dacoit-cum-killers.

A security guard, the resident of D.I.Khan, was killed in Akbari Gate police precincts on offering resistance but the police investigators are still pulling their legs to unearth the dacoits’ gang.

Cantt division remained on 3rd number with 40 reported incidents in which a stage actress Naira was also looted in Defence and she was also subjected to severe torture. Out of total reported incidents, around 12 cars and 7 motorcycles were also stolen or snatched from Cantt division.

Sadar Division was calculated on 4th number with 38 reported incidents of crime against property out of which 9 motorcycles were also snatched or stolen. A traffic warden was also shot injured by dacoits during a dacoity bid in Sabzazar police precincts.

Iqbal Town was on 5th number with 24 incidents while Civil Lines division was calculated on 6th number with only 5 reported incidents. Millat Park police station in Iqbal Town division has become a heaven for the dacoits as robbers snatched three motorcycles and deprived around two persons of cash and valuables during the last week.

Credit goes to Civil Lines division which solved a murder case, in which a girl killed her brother over love marriage issue, within 10 hours of the incident. It was also observed during the last week that the operations wing of Lahore Police has once again launched a crackdown against land grabbers as SHO Samanbad was also suspended over patronizing a land mafia.

Head-hitters have once again passed on their message to the Investigation Wing of Lahore Police by injuring two labourers in Green Town during the last week that tracing out the stone group will remain a dream for the police as they strike when police officials go in slumber.

It is worth appreciating that SP Mujahid Squad had dismissed two officials from service after the charges of teasing couples in parks levelled against them proved true. There is need to enhance vigilance over the cops of Mujahid squad who have become itself looters and teasers for the Lahorities instead of performing their duties with dedication and honesty.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=137291