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Bhubaneswar, July 12: Sanghamitra Patnaik, 59, a retired history teacher of BJB College, was rattled when two motorcycle-borne youths snatched her gold chain near Unit-II Market building on July 7.
“It is not about the jewellery, but the security of citizens. I have lodged a complaint at Capital police station,” said Patnaik.
Snatching cases have taken place at crowded places such as Ashoka Market, Saheed Nagar and Chandrasekhapur.
The police said only a few snatching cases had taken place in the past four or five months. But the number during this time is believed to be around four or five every day.
Some victims also alleged that the police hesitated to receive complaints in these cases and some were asked by the police not to speak to the media.
“Goons stole my motorcycle. They also attacked me with weapons at Aiginia Square a week ago. When I reached Khandagiri police station to lodge an FIR, the cops asked me not to report the incident to the media,” said a victim.
On March 16, a police constable suffered a bullet injury while trying to stop a thief from stealing outside a jewellery showroom at Master Canteen Square.
However, the police have been organising checks by putting up barriers on roads to deal with the growing number of snatching incidents.
This, some residents have alleged, is about cops trying to generate revenue by penalising riders without helmets and three people taking rides on scooters and motorcycles.
Sources in the police said not a single goon had been nabbed during the checks.
“The blocking has caused inconvenience to us all. It has also led to traffic congestion on major roads in the city,” said Sourav Jena, a local resident of Unit-IV.
Retired director general of police S.N. Tiwary advised cops to co-operate with victims of snatching.
“Bikes are mostly used in snatching cases. The police should keep informers in specific areas and intensify the drive against speeding by using speed guns,” said Tiwary.
Police officials said they had intensified patrolling to prevent such cases.
