The Dhaka Metropolitan Police have intensified vigilance to check mugging and snatching which recently marked an increase in the capital, said sources in the police headquarters.

All the police stations in Dhaka have been asked to send reports on their operations to check such crimes, said a source.

Detailing police activities in this regard, a senior police official told a leading English daily that they have intensified patrolling in the main streets of vulnerable areas including Motijheel, Tejgaon, New Market, Shahbagh and Dhanmondi.

These roads were dangerous for passengers arriving by buses and trains since they are frequently victimised by muggers and snatchers riding taxi cabs.

‘We don’t allow taxi cabs to stand on these roads at night,’ said  officer-in-charge of Dhanmondi police station.

The officer claimed they have already got some positive results by stopping taxis from parking on those roads, and the number of hijacking and snatching incidents has decreased since the system was introduced a few days ago.

The muggers and snatchers, in connivance with a section of cabbies and drivers of auto-rickshaws, loot the valuables of the passengers at different places, mainly at night. They also stab the passengers whenever they try to resist the muggers.

On April 26, the muggers looted the licensed revolver of a businessman along with other valuables after boarding the auto-rickshaw he had hired to go to Mohammadpur from Mohakhali for business.

The muggers then dropped the victim near the Staff Road level crossing after driving the vehicle for several kilometres.

The police, however, recovered the revolver and arrested the three muggers after raiding their den at Badda the following night.

Admitting that such incidents have increased, a senior police officer observed that the eviction drives against the street hawkers may be the reason behind it.

© The Bangladesh Journal