File picture of people demonstrating in front of Paradip police station April 21 against deteriorating law and order situation

Paradip, May 26: Lawlessness has become the order of the day in Jagatsinghpur district.

Police had an encounter with armed criminals near Jagatsinghpur on May 24. Three such encounters were reported over the past few months, revealing the sorry state of the law and order situation in the area.

Two goons with criminal record were injured in the May 24 encounter. Four of the goons, along with those injured, have been remanded in judicial custody, the police said.

“The safety of life and property is at stake. Traders and businessmen have become soft targets of criminals,” said Harihar Mahapatra, a local resident.

“Extortion has become common and traders are frequently being robbed at gun point. Crude bombs are being hurled at shops and commercial establishments to terrorise shop owners,” said Rashmi Ranjan Sahu, a local resident.

Jagatsinghpur superintendent of police Satyabrata Bhoi said: “Police are on alert and are making efforts to curb such activities. Special squads have been formed to curb the lawlessness. We are optimistic that these criminals would be booked shortly.”

On May 11 last year, three criminals and an equal number of policemen were injured in a gun battle in Jagatsinghpur.

A criminal was shot dead and one of his accomplices grievously injured following an encounter with police on the outskirts of Jagatsinghpur district headquarters town in February last year.

Of late, nearly a dozen shootout and bombing incidents have breached the peace in the area.

A spurt in industrial activities coupled with a surge in construction projects are providing ample opportunities for crime mongers to run extortion racket in places such as Paradip and Jagatsinghpur.

Local traders had observed a shutdown on September 13 to register their protest against the fast-deteriorating law and order situation.