Guwahati sees surge in crimes

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Increasing crimes in the city have created fear in the minds of people. In the recent past, several cases had sent shockwaves across the city. Be it Antima Gupta murder, teenager Dimple Kumawat's murder, the murder of the elderly couple in Beltola Chandanagar, the Rajkanya Baruah hit-and-run case or the severed legs which were recovered from near a dustbin in Khanapara on Saturday – all these crimes have created insecurity and fear among people.

Talking to The Sentinel, senior advocate Bhaskar Dev Konwar said, "Every city has a good and bad face. Unlike other metropolitan cities, Guwahati is still safe. Although in recent times there was a sporadic increase of violent crimes against the elderly and women, the same can be effectively checked and prevented. Guwahati has more than 30 police stations and outposts but some of them even lack basic infrastructure and equipment. In the name of modernization of the police force, the funds earmarked are insufficient and not properly utilized. The smart city project is yet to take off and under it, the whole city was to be brought under security surveillance. The entry and exit points to the city are not even put under proper electronic surveillance. Law and order and investigation wings of Assam Police are yet to be separated."

He further said, "Crime detection and scientific investigation need to be upgraded so that criminals can be convicted. Compared to the cases registered in different police stations of the city, the infrastructure of the trial courts needs to be increased. The sad part is that except at Bhetapara Charali, no traffic lights are functioning in the city. In cases of drunken driving, the use of a breath analyser has been stopped. As a result, alcohol test in hospitals has not been done in many cases. During night time the presence of police patrolling on the road is not much visible. The streetlights are not functioning in many areas which makes it convenient for criminals to snatch valuables. Earlier there was a policy to do a background check of tenants with the police but now it is completely ignored and even the local Nagarik committees have become dysfunctional. Many people have advocated for establishing a police control room under each flyover of the city with proper facilities where overworked police personnel can also take rest. An atmosphere should be created where people do not hesitate to go to the police station to report a crime. The city should be safe and secure as it is the gateway to not only to the north-eastern States but it is also going to open to other south-east Asian countries in the coming years."

Manas Bora, who owns a restaurant in the city, said, "The crime graph in the city is showing an upward trend. Police patrolling should be intensified. We see police patrolling only in the posh areas of the city. Most of the time the police patrolling teams do not go to the interior areas. Guwahati is a metropolitan city where people move around till late at night. Police teams should do patrolling after midnight. This will help to check criminal activities."

Bora also laid stress on creating awareness among people with the help of the local Nagarik committees. "Sadly, committing crimes like rape, murder and robbery has become easy for criminals. People should be alert and Nagarik committees should create awareness among people. The police and administration must take stringent measures to check the crime graph in the city."

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