Post News Network
Cuttack, June 1: A rise in cases of robbery in the last few months has led to a feeling of anxiety and helplessness among residents of the Silver City.
Residents are questioning the inability of the Commissionerate Police in tackling such incidents. The recent robbery at the residence of former judge of Orissa High Court Justice PK Mohanty at Sector-11 in CDA has given rise to sharp criticism.
Residents feel patrolling by Police Control Room (PCR) vans has been grossly ineffective. “The situation in CDA is pathetic. Lack of adequate streetlights and patrolling by PCR vans has become a cause for concern,” said Dr Manoranjan Patnaik, a resident of Sector 10 in CDA.
The recent robbery case is not an isolated incident. A few days ago, petrol bombs were hurled at the residence of a person who was acquitted by a city court in a murder case. Earlier, two hardcore criminals of the Tito gang were injured in an encounter with police in Badambadi area.
Opposition parties have also taken up cudgels against the police and administration over the increasing lawlessness in the city. Senior city Congress leader Mohammed Moaqim said the state machinery meant to maintain law and order has failed in Cuttack city, which is evident with the spurt in incidents of robbery, gang war and theft.
Meanwhile, Cuttack DCP Sanjeev Arora said patrolling by police personnel across the city will be intensified, especially in CDA, which is a residential area and is cut off from the rest of the city. Arora added that with the rise in the population in the city, it is natural that incidents of crime will also increase.
The Commissionerate system in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack was introduced by the state government in order to cater to the burgeoning population in both cities. Arora said the need of the hour is to effectively utilise the police personnel on duty across the city.