Kendrapara: Slack policing has turned residents and commuters into soft targets as goons strike at regular intervals here.

Reports of highway robberies, snatching, burglaries and motorcycle lifting are a regular occurrence here.

Commuter safety in general and motorcyclists in particular have also been jeopardised with a sudden spurt in highway robberies, especially at the Paradip-Daitary Expressway, where a dozen of robberies have been reported in the last fortnight.

"An increase in industrial activities in neighbouring Paradip, coupled with a surge in construction projects, provide ample opportunities for criminals to run extortion rackets. However, most extortion cases remain unreported as victims can't repose trust on inept law-enforces and come forward to lodge an FIR," said former MLA Ganeswar Behera.

Local resident Ardhendu Mohapatra bears a similar outlook. "The safety of our life and property are at stake. Traders and businessmen have become soft targets. Peace-loving people are also beginning to feel unsafe. The police are marked by inaction and indifference and we believe that the criminals have a nexus with the cops. Not a single culprit has been apprehended as yet," he alleged.

"Traders are being robbed at gunpoint, while crude bombs are being hurled at shops and commercial establishments to terrorise shopowners. Life and property of law-abiding citizens are at stake," said another resident Prakash Jena.

However, Kendrapara superintendent of police Dayanidhi Gochhayat said: "We are alert and on the job to curb criminal activities. Special squads have been formed to curb lawlessness. We are optimistic that criminals would be booked shortly."