Firing incidents have locals worried

PK Jaiwar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 7

Repeated firing instances in the holy city have raised a question mark over the law and order situation. The easy availability of firearms is also a cause of concern for cops.

People are of the view that there is a sense of insecurity and the police have failed to maintain law and order as well as arrest criminal elements. Despite the fact that the state has been on high alert after the intelligence inputs regarding the presence of terrorists, firing incidents are being reported on a regular basis, proving to be a major headache for cops.

In the past one month, the city has witnessed over half a dozen firing case in which several persons have sustained injuries. Raising concerns over the law and situation, AAP workers had staged a protest on Thursday.

On November 20, two armed men pumped bullets into RTI activist Suresh Sharma. The incident took place in broad daylight in the busy Chheharta area. Though the suspects were captured in CCTV footage, the police have yet to make any breakthrough in the case.

On December 2, several persons allegedly fired indiscriminately outside a residence over an old enmity at Baba Jeevan Singh Colony in the Guru Ki Wadali area. The police booked five persons in this connection, but the suspects are yet to be arrested.

On December 1, another firing incident was reported from the Kot Khalsa area. Jagtar Singh told the police that the suspects had fired at him. He said the accused were seven in numbers and they were using abusive language and creating a ruckus outside his house. An old dispute was stated to be the reason behind the incident.

Similarly on November 28, a minor dispute over parking a car turned ugly when several persons, including a woman, fired at an elderly man living in the neighbouring house. He sustained injuries in the incident, which took place in the Chand Avenue area. The police have registered a case of attempt to murder against the suspects. Cops said raids were on to nab them.

On the same day, several persons fired indiscriminately at another youth in the Guru Ki Wadali area. In firing, two school students suffered bullet injuries. The police have booked four persons in this connection.

DCP (Law and Order) Amrik Singh Pawar said the easy availability of illegal arms had definitely contributed to the current situation, but on the other hand, people should also exercise a restrain.

“Barring a couple of instances, a majority of the cases reported recently were of personal disputes. In such cases, the police initiated legal procedures of canceling arms licence of the suspects, besides registration of cases. Thereafter, the suspects are arrested,” he added.

He said the police have taken appropriate measures for controlling criminal elements and many of them had been arrested.