June 25: A business hub has turned into a crime destination. Lakhtokia, one of the oldest commercial and residential localities in the city, has virtually been taken over by criminals.

Traders are passing sleepless nights over the increasing number of cases of theft and burglary in the area, the last being the murder of an employee of Wide Range Corporation, an electronics shop, who was hacked to death by unknown assailants on June 20 night.

According to police and traders, the victim — identified as Raj Narayan Pandey, 24 — was found writhing in pain just in front of the shop where he stayed at night. He was taken to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital where he died of his injuries.

“Such horrific incidents have now become regular in Lakhtokia area. One can easily guess how criminals are threatening life and property of the people in the area. We fear for our lives and businesses. It was Wide Range Corporation a few days ago, a similar incident can take place in my shop tomorrow,” a trader, who has been running shop at Lakhtokia for the past 10 years, said.

The majority of traders have attributed inaction on the part of the administration and police to the mushrooming of crime at Lakhtokia, which is considered as the one of the oldest business hubs of the city.

“Majority of those committing the crimes are taking shelter along the railway tracks situated close to the main Lakhtokia area. While the administration has not done anything to evict the illegal encrochers along the railway track, the police have also been not able to make any breakthrough in the recent cases of crime committed in the area. The criminals have become so daring that they are not afraid of committing crimes even at 10pm or 11pm at a busy and commercial place like Lakhtokia,” another trader said.

The owner of Wide Range Corporation, Alok Kabra, who is still shocked over the way his employee was hacked to death, said other employees of his shop are now apprehensive.

“We have decided not to keep any employee at the shop at night. Pandey was a very loyal employee and we cannot afford to lose any more,” Kabra said.

The secretary of Lakhtokia Merchants’ Association, Gautam Saha, said the association would hold a general body meeting on Thursday to discuss the situation and take necessary action. He said the association has apprised the matter to Guwahati development department minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

V.K. Ramisetti, senior superintendent of police of city police, said there was no question of police’s “inaction” to arrest the crime graph of important places like Lakhtokia. He said the police would definitely take more stern action and intensify security in the area.

“Traders should come forward and help the police crack down on criminals,” he said.

Besides traders, residents have also complained about the increasing number of criminal activities in the area. An organisation — Guwahati Progressive Citizens’ Forum — had submitted a memorandum to the Guwahati Municipal Corporation demanding installation of streetlights in the area to prevent crime two years back. But there was no positive response to their request.

“Anti-socials are taking advantage of non existence of streetlights and committing crimes at will. A youth snat-ched my sister’s golden necklace and purse while she was walking down SS Road last month in the evening,’ Rashiduz Zaman, a resident of Lakhtokia, said.