LARKANA: A large number of people staged a sit-in on Shaikh Zayed Colony Road on Monday in protest against growing incidents of robberies and police failure to rein in street crime in the district.

The protesters’ leaders Sarang Solangi, a tailor, Advocate Aftab Chandio and others, who led the sit-in, criticised lethargic attitude of police in clamping down on rising crime wave and recovering looted money, snatched motorcycles and mobile sets. People were increasingly feeling insecure, they said.

On Sunday night, thieves took away 25 pairs of unstitched cloths, UPS and cash to the tune of Rs25,000 after breaking open locks on shops, and stole battery and solar plates from the adjacent shop in the same locality, they said.

They said that robberies also took place in Lahori locality and old Anaj Mandi where the outlaws had tortured shopkeepers and then escaped with handsome amounts of cash after overpowering them at gunpoint.

They said that within only a week, 10 incidents of theft and robberies had been reported from Shaikh Zayed Colony alone. Unfortunately, police acted as silent spectator, they alleged.

They urged Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Sindh chief minister, IGP, DIG and SSP of Larkana to play their role in capturing criminals and ensuring recovery of snatched motorcycles and stolen articles.

Waleed town’s SHO, Imdad Jagirani, later talked to protesters urging them to call off the sit-in. They ended the protest over the SHO’s assurance that the criminals would be arrested within two days.

JUI-F concerned over rising crime

Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl Larkana chapter’s general secretary Muhabbat Khuhro expressed concern over fragile law and order situation in the city and urged police to tighten the noose round the necks of criminals who committed robberies and burglaries without fear of law.

He said in a press statement that street crime was on the rise and unchecked movement and trade of narcotics had destroyed society.

He demanded early recovery of looted material, cash and motorcycles otherwise his party would be compelled to demonstrate outside DIG and SSP’s offices.

Published in Dawn, December 24th, 2024