FAISALABAD: Increasing street crimes have become a big challenge for the police officials as scores of the police stations are functioning without regular station house officers (SHOs) while the Dolphin Force has also failed to catch the robbers.

On Sept 3, three robbers gunned down an aged man, Nawazish Ali, of Chak 406-GB, in Chak 405-GB, Tandlianwala.

On the same day, two robbers snatched about Rs2.4m from a man outside a bank in D Ground, Peoples Colony, and fled. The robbery victim had come to deposit the amount with the bank. The robbers also opened fire on the victim, however, he narrowly escaped.

On Tuesday, 40-year-old, Shiraz was shot at and injured for resisting a robbery bid near the GTS Chowk.

He was standing with his children when an armed robber tried to snatch his motorcycle. His children and other passers-by had to hide themselves as he struggled against the robbers and foiled their bid.

On Sept 1, people caught two alleged robbers in Islamia Park and gave them sound thrashing before handing over to the police.

Police failure to curb the street crimes has earned the wrath of the people who want to see the force more active against the robbers.

Media reports said more than 200 robbery and theft incidents had taken place within last couple of days.

One of the main reasons for this lawlessness and alleged freedom of the robbers to carry out their criminal activities is the absence of regular SHOs in police stations.

Currently, the acting SHOs are working in many police stations and a number of them are not taking interest in their duty, citing their likely replacement by their senior officers anytime.

Sources said a majority of the policemen who were transferred to Faisalabad from other districts prior to the general election were not taking interest in their duty which deteriorated the street crime situation in the entire district.

Besides, they said such police officers, majority of whom were serving as the SHOs, had also not been registering the cases, knowing that following the election, no strict action would be taken against them regarding the surge in the street crimes as they were sent to Faisalabad just for election.

A couple of days ago, City Police Officer Ashfaq Ahmed Khan had relieved about 20 policemen from their duties. These policemen were sent to Faisalabad from other districts prior to the general election.

For the appointment of the SHOs, a committee, headed by the SSP (operations), has also been formed. It will suggest names of the suitable candidates for the SHO slots so that political intervention could also be avoided.

A police officer said efforts were afoot to appoint the regular SHOs.

Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2018