Assam: Spike in Daylight Thefts Alarms Kaziranga

A CORRESPONDENT

BOKAKHAT: Kaziranga, internationally recognized as a major tourist destination, is now witnessing a disturbing rise in thefts happening one after another, even in broad daylight. With both domestic and international tourists flocking to the area to visit Kaziranga National Park, a growing lack of security is becoming apparent.

Within the past ten days, three separate theft incidents have created a wave of concern in the region. At the same time, the role of Kohora Police is being questioned, as local residents continue to feel unsafe. According to sources, a theft occurred last night at a hotel located at Dibing Chariali under the Kohora Police Outpost. The thieves broke into the hotel at midnight and stole cash from the cashbox, an iPhone, and even ate rice and sweets inside the hotel before fleeing the scene.

Reportedly, the hotel owner’s son was sleeping inside the hotel during the incident. Police recovered materials suspected to be chloroform, as well as tobacco and lime (used for chewing with betel nut) left behind by the thieves. Notably, this hotel has been targeted by thieves twice before.

In another incident, thieves broke into a house near the 37th National Highway at Chepenakubowa in Kaziranga during the daytime and made away with cash and gold jewelry. Yet, Kohora Police have failed to trace any suspects. Just two days earlier, another theft took place during the day at a shop in Bogorijuri, where cash and a phone were stolen from the cashbox.

All three incidents have occurred within a 3-4 kilometer radius of the Kohora Police Outpost and near the 37th National Highway, yet the police have been unable to catch the culprits. These consecutive incidents in such a high-profile international tourist zone have left locals worried and feeling insecure. Residents are frustrated and critical of the police’s apparent apathy.

Kaziranga is often considered a safe haven for tourists from all over the world, with visitors roaming freely day and night. In such a place, if criminals are able to carry out crimes back-to-back without any fear of consequences, concerned citizens are questioning how locals, let alone foreign tourists, can feel safe.

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