Rourkela, April 25: Preoccupation with the Maoist problems has forced police personnel to devote lesser time towards maintaining law and order in the city.

Consequently, petty crimes are on a rise even at some of the most-frequented public places in the city during particular hours of the day.

At present, the Rourkela police district houses 13 police stations, and as many as 200-odd officers and constables man them. However, the strength is not adequate to cater to over five lakh people living in the city, feel local residents.

"We need more police deployment in this city. Already we are preoccupied with the Maoist problem. It has become a difficult task for us maintain law and order in the city with this strength," said a senior police officer on condition of anonymity.

The police district consists of the Rourkela and Raghunathpalli Assembly constituencies. Being very close to the Maoist-affected area on the Odisha-Jharkhand border, the police personnel are, most of the times, on their toes to tackle the rebel related problems. Due to this, they are forced to keep a lesser vigil on the law and order in the city.

The places that need more police presence are the NAC Market at Koelnagar and the Ispat Nehru Park, which is adjacent to the Ispat General Hospital.

The NAC Market is a busy commercial area in the city. "I am afraid of visiting the market though I have my favourite eateries there," said Bani Das, an elderly woman.

Many senior citizens and youngsters have the same complaint. "Any moment after sunset till 10pm, when the market closes, this place sees a lot of petty crimes," said Prakash Panda, a local resident.

Inadvertently one gets drawn into the fight between groups over trivial issues. "The other day, one of my acquaintances got abused as he had parked his car there," said a shop owner, who is the proprietor of one of the eateries. Many potential customers have started avoiding the market during the evening hours.

"We cannot do anything. Only two home guards are pressed into service in this ever-busy market," said a small kiosk owner.

The situation at the Ispat Nehru Park is also becoming unbearable. The entrance to this park is free till 8am for morning walkers. Couples, senior citizens, apart from Rourkela Steel Plant executives and workers, frequent the park.

There had been several instances when visitors to the park faced threats from the criminals. Inspector in charge of Sector-19 police station Rasmita Patel, under whose jurisdiction the park falls, said: "We will take some serious measures," said Patel.

With regards to the NAC Market at Koelnagar, Patel said: "I will talk to my officers and do the needful shortly."