Cops breathe easy as jewellers deploy private security guards

Increasing attacks on city jewellers have led to a sense of insecurity among the businessmen,leading them to deploy private security guards at their establishments. With many traders sustaining injuries in over 12 robbery cases in the last month,the traders blamed the police for inaction and said no arrest was made in most of the cases and they were not left with any option but to deploy private security guards at homes and their shops even though it cost a little too much.

“We are living under constant fear and hence deployed private guards. We have taken up our concerns with the government and police authorities but were given only lip service,” said Baljit Singh Naagi of Naagi Jewelers.

Shyam Verma,a goldsmith who and his brother were recently attacked and robbed by miscreants,said they had identified certain persons who attacked them but the police failed to arrest them.

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Incidents of chain snatching by bikers have also become common as traders said rising prices of gold had led to an increase in snatching incidents.

Admitting that there had been a few cases of robberies and thefts,SSP PK Rai said private security is a welcome step as it was necessary to contain the attacks. Noting that he held meeting with traders,asking them to install CCTVs in their premises,he said: “We have increased patrolling during night and many anti-social elements have been arrested.”