SIALKOT, Nov 21: Markazi Anjuman Tajran has expressed its grave concern over the rising incidence of robberies in the district owing to the alleged ill-planning and ineffective patrolling.

Talking to newsmen here on Tuesday, Anjuman president Mehar Ghulam Mujtaba and secretary-general Ehsanul Haq Butt said street crime was increasing with every passing day especially in Sialkot city, Daska, Bhopalwala, Sambrial, Uggoki, Pasrur, Chawinda and Badiana and dacoits had been targetting local traders.

They said about eight to 10 street crime incidents were being reported daily from the city and several robberies from other urban and rural parts of the district.

They said the graph of motorcycle theft and snatching had also moved upward.

The trader leaders said Sialkot police had formed a special motorcycle squad to fight street crime in the city, but its personnel were often found busy in performing duties of traffic police by checking driving licences of motorcyclists, causing a great deal of inconvenience to citizens.

They said the squad was not allowed to check driving licences as it had been entrusted with the task of patrolling to keep a vigil on suspects.

Local traders have urged the chief minister, Punjab IGP and Gujranwala additional IG Malik Muhammad Iqbal to take a serious notice of the crime situation in the district.