Criminals Create Terror, Villagers Demand Security in Silchar

Villagers argue that despite complaints, not even a single criminal has been arrested and booked

Special Correspondent

SILCHAR: Anti- social and criminals turn into robbers and dacoits at night and target well to do families of village Silkoorie, 8 km away from the town, located across Silchar-Assam University road. A series of incidents of robberies in the area stretching from Ghungoor to Durgaona have created panic among the inhabitants, belonging mostly to Hindi speaking and tea tribe community.

After dusk, a sense of fear looms large before them. This has been going on for the last few years, making living miserable. After each incident, report is filed and FIR lodged with police. But, quite surprising, no action follows. And that makes the criminals more emboldened.

Frustrated at the inaction of the police, the residents of the area joined hands together, signed a memorandum, detailing the series of burglaries and the houses with names of owners targeted, and submitted it to Cachar DC Laya Madduri on Friday for pre-emptive measures and adequate security cover. The representation articulated the deep anger and resentment of the villagers whose single most argument is that despite robberies and complaints, not even a single criminal has been arrested and booked.

Before submission of the memo, the villagers under the banner of Hindi Bhasi and Cha Janagoshthi Manch in a block staged protest demonstration, conveying the message how they pass sleepless nights to protect themselves and their hard earned properties. Some of them narrated how the house of Biswanath Goala of Ghungoor in their neighbourhood was burgled twice within a few days. Last month, the houses of Chandan Paul and Ajoy Goala were looted. No arrest has been made. People have lost trust and confidence in police administration, they alleged.

In order to activate the village defence party in the troubled zone, a representation was submitted to the Superintendent of Police on June 26. Nothing till date has been done. Following day, another representation was given to the officer-in-charge of Ghungoor police station for security. Taking advantage of the terrain, thieves and dacoits have made the area in question their green pastures with impunity. The helpless villagers have to suffer.

In batches and by turn, young men of diverse professions and even students spend nights, patrolling the area. They have to work in frequent power cuts, weak mobile network and adverse weather conditions caused by rains and storms. It was because of their vigil and alertness that two members of a gang of dacoits on prowl were nabbed while others managed to escape. Some sympathizers of the criminals filed counter FIR in Sadar police station to get them released. Not only that, they are trying to give the incident a communal twist. The Deputy Commissioner has been impressed upon to ensure that night patrolling by police in their area becomes effective immediately.

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