Cuttack: Is it the adolescence kick or inclination to easy money that lures youths, especially college goers, to the darkness of crime?
At least 86 persons arrested here between January and December 20 this year on various charges had no previous criminal record, this was revealed at a crime review meet recently organised in the Millennium city.
The most worrying fact is almost all of arrested are youths and mostly college goers, the meeting revealed.
The statics has raised eyebrows of the twin-city police. “Even as the dreaded criminals like Dhalasamanta brothers, Tito and members of Shakeel gang are behind bars, the infusion of young blood in crime has undoubtedly challenged the police department,” a source close to the Commissionerate Police said.
Emergence of new criminals has become a headache for the police. “In cases involving professional criminals, we can at least relate to their past records in our database and get breakthrough. However, it’s hard to investigate cases where the culprits are new entrants to the field of crime,” said a senior police officer, requesting anonymity.
The Markatnagar police had arrested five members of a gang run by Seikh Arif, one of the aides of Dhalasamanta siblings, while hatching a robbery plan at Satigumpha February 2 this year. Of the five youths, Seikh Heider of Diwan Bazaar Tanti Sahi and Manoranjan Mishra of Bidanashi Shelter Square, had no previous criminal record, it was learnt.
In another incident, a local court here last March 6 convicted Vikrant Kumar Singh on charges of smuggling marijuana and sentenced him to 11 years of rigorous imprisonment. Investigations revealed that Singh of Mokama area in Bihar was a third year Plus III Arts student and this was the first criminal case against him.
This apart, an engineering student was arrested by Malgodown police on charges of circulating obscene videos of a girl student of Ravenshaw University March 10 this year.
Besides, bombing at Kesharpur Sahi March 24 and firing on a mobile dealer at Cantonment Road March 27 this year were the handiwork of Shakeel gang members, most of whom are new faces in crime. Moreover, firing at Satichoura Square, bombing on the residence of a MLA’s brother, firing on a trader at College Square, bombing at Jobra and Mission Road area had been carried out by new criminals.
Students’ leader Rashmirekha Sahu attributes the phenomena to the growing unemployment and association with non-students on college campus.
Psychiatrist Sangeeta Rath is of the opinion that lavish lifestyle, peer pressure and easy money drive youths to chose crime as a shortcut to achieve them. Advocate Smrutiranjan Mohapatra, however, said lack of proper guidance, counselling and stern action by police are some of the major attributors to the rising crime by youths.
Meanwhile, deputy commissioner of police Akhilesvar Singh said they have been holding counselling events in colleges and educational institutions to aware youths.
“Efforts are on to keep a tab on every corner of the city. Our teams are alert in this regard,” he added.
PNN