STREET crime is the term given to criminal offences taking place in public places. Owing to the increase in poverty and unemployment, incidents of street crime have increased at an alarming pace.

Sukkur is Sindh’s third largest city and a division headquarters. It has a population of more than 2.6 million. The area’s economy is largely reliant upon produce from farms in the vicinity. The area serves as a trading and processing centre for agricultural goods. It had a fledgling industrial estate which has fallen on hard days owing to long hours of loadshedding, forcing industries to close, rendering thousands of people jobless.

As a result, petty street crimes like mugging and the snatching of mobile phones, automobiles and motorcycles have increased to an alarming level. Every individual has a tale to narrate of how he or a close relative fell victim to street crime. No one’s life and property is safe.

The police seem powerless. The Sindh government should take serious measures to control the situation.

Kamran Shaikh

Sukkur

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2019