Crime is on the increase in Mohali

MOHALI: Criminals are having a free run in Mohali. Spurt in the cases of gunpoint robbery, snatching, murder, kidnapping, carjacking is nerve-racking residents.
The year saw crime rising in the city: 19 murders, 26 gunpoint robberies and 50 kidnappings. The past year saw 17 murders, 25 gunpoint robberies and 22 kidnappings.
With cops failing to solve most of the cases, miscreants are getting fearless.And non-functional streetlights, especially in phases 5, 7 and 10 - which witnessed a robbery and a snatching in the past three days -- and absence of CCTV cameras make their task easier.
J P Singh, president of Phase 3B-2 market association, said, "There are no CCTV cameras in residential and market areas. We have requested the DC and SSP many a time to install electronic eyes, but to no avail."
Arunjit Saini, a resident of Phase 7, said, "The authorities should make sure all streetlights work properly. Non-functional lights only make robbers' work easier."
Sandeep Kaur Virk, a resident of Sector 69, said, "People have installed CCTV cameras outside their homes as the authorities have failed to take steps to ensure their security."
And what is giving residents and police sleepless nights are smart criminals. They remove every clue from the spot: In August 19's gunpoint robbery in Phase 6, robbers removed their footprints and handprints before leaving the crime scene.
A senior Mohali cop said, "Lack of skilled cops to investigate crimes is to blame for poor detection."
In August, Mohali DC T P S Sidhu had said CCTV cameras would be soon installed in the city. But hardly anything has been done. Despite repeated attempts, the DC could not be contacted.
UNSAFE MOHALI
August 19: Six armed robbers strike at a house in Phase 6 and escape with gold after holding the family hostage at gunpoint
August 8: Six armed miscreants rob a house in Sector 69.
July 19: Three armed robbers escape with Rs 11 lakh from Sector 70
May 5: Derabassi post office looted of Rs 2.50 lakh at gunpoint by three masked robbers
April 17: Robbers strike at Mullanpur jewellery shop
February 14: Two masked robbers loot cash from a liquor vend in Sohana village