Burglary : People blaming Police, drug-addict rag pickers

Burglars decamped with goods worth Rs 50 thousand from a shop near Maharajganj Bazar Police outpost on Sunday night in Agartala.

In another incident, thieves broke open s grill gate and entered in the Tripura State Cooperative Bank Ltd at Bipani Bitan in Durga Chowmuhani in Agartala on the same night. According to the bank manager, the gang snapped the wire of CCTV after entering in to the office. Even as the gang ransacked the office, they did not take away anything of importance.

Meantime, locals have vented anger at the ‘growing’ incidents of burglary in the city and adjoining areas. Role of the Police at night is also coming under scanner and people are accusing drug addict rag pickers of commiting the crime.

Not just in Agartala city, surge in theft are reported from other parts of the State. Thieves are looting shops, households and even the religious places. On Saturday night, burglars made a daring heist from the Ananadamoyee Kali Bari at Arya Colony in Belonia.

“Thieves barged into the temple after breaking a grill and decamped with money from two donation boxes and other items”, locals said on Sunday.

According to the local people, surge in theft is directly linked with the increase in number of rag pickers who are drug-addicts.

“Several teenagers and youths, posing as rag pickers roam around the town and at night, they commit the burglary. Almost all of these rag pickers are drug-addicts – so they are desperate to get money for drugs”, local people of Arya Colony opined.

As the theft in Anandamoyee Kalibari created huge resentment, local councilor Mrinal Datta Gupta also reached the spot and shared the opinions of the locals. He told the Police to keep an eye on the rag pickers as many of them are reportedly committing the crime to buy drugs.

Meantime, number of rag pickers is also swelling in Agartala.

“These rag pickers do not care about CCTV – they break the CCTV and commit the burglary. Apart of big heist, these rag pickers often enter into households and flee away whatever they get”, alleged a resident of Durga Chowmuhani.