Patna, May 20: Chief minister Nitish Kumar’s effort to woo investors to come to Bihar has been challenged by a spurt in crime against businessmen and entrepreneurs in the state capital.

Back-to-back incidents of dacoities having hit business institutions in the Patna City area, businessmen are a worried lot and have requested the police to be more alert and ensure their safety.

The past two months have seen as many as five incidents of dacoities in industrial workshops in Patna City.

Of the five dacoities, four took place in May only.

Sanjay Goenka, the general secretary of Bihar Industries Association, said the spate of dacoities in the area is having a bad effect on the business houses and the healthy atmosphere of the state as a whole. “In the last 30 to 35 days, there have been many incidents of dacoities in the industries located in Agamkuan, Bypass, Kadamkuan and Gardanibagh police station areas. We suspect there is just one gang which is behind all these incidents. The robberies have scared the businessmen as well as the workers and it may reflect on the production and business,” Goenka said.

The official said that the terror was such that many workers had left work and gone away.

“Several people have left work. Many more have refused to work in the night shifts. If the police do not arrest the gang or gangs involved in the same, there will be a backlash and the effect will show on work as well as productivity,” the official said.

The official said the police needed to do something concrete and do something fast.

“It has happened that when an incident is reported to the patrolling party, most of the times they say it is not under their jurisdiction area. This is a major problem. As a result, the criminals roam free and target more people. The police should make it their priority to catch hold of criminals first rather than deciding upon their jurisdictions,” he said.

The police, on the other hand, said they were alert and the night patrolling had been intensified.

“Night patrolling has been made more rampant and policemen are stationed at specific areas. The police are doing their job and the cases are being investigated. Business houses don’t need to worry as the police are working to ensure their safety,” a police officer at Patna City area said.

Terror on trade

April 12: Dacoity at the Anand Steel Factory at night under the Agamkuan police station area

May 2: Dacoity at the Tirupati Steel Factory at night under the Agamkuan police station area

May 6: Dacoity at Johnson Paints Limited at night under the Bypass police station area

May 13: Dacoity at the Hede Ispat factory at night under the Agamkuan police station area

May 16: Dacoity at the Usha Air Products Limited Factory at night under the Gardanibagh police station area