Despite tall claims of the Gurugram Police about tightening the noose around the armed snatchers in the city, incidents of carjacking and vehicle snatching are continuing unabated in the millennium city.
Despite several efforts being made by the police, criminals from Delhi, Mewat in Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have stuck across the city with impunity. The police, however, claimed that they have busted couple of gangs involved in such activities and other active gangs are on their radar.
So far, a crime data shows that around 359 cases under section 379-A (snatching) and 123 cases under section 379-B (snatching and use of force) have been registered until December 16 this year. However, the case reported in 2016 was 287 under section (379-A) and 103 under Section (379-B).
Spurt up in the cases raises a serious concern on the police patrolling. Though, the police claim they are working in shifts but the number of crime that take place on daily basis paints a grim reality. Earlier, the goons targeted vehicles only but now they are attacking people to rob them of their belongings, sometimes even, ready to kill them.
According to the data, a number of such cases were registered at sector-29, DlF Phase-II, City police station, civil lines, sector-10A, Udyog Vihar, Palam Vihar, Sector-5 old Gurugram, Badshahpur and Sohna police station.
"Offenders usually target people who travel alone on state highways and National Highways. Such persons are their easy targets who take lifts at odd hours. Secluded places are the most vulnerable area," Deputy Commissioner of Police (crime), Sumit Kuhar, said.
Police claim that it's the change in lifestyle and the need for money that influences youngsters to commit crime. A lavish lifestyle, drug consumption and addiction are another reasons.
"The major issue facing Gurugram Police is that it short-staffed. We have sent a recommendation for more staff to the higher authority so that our crime units work more effectively. The floating population is another reason behind such crimes," the DCP said.
"The biggest challenge is tracing offenders and recovering vehicles from them. They used to sell the vehicle at a low price in Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Mewat. Soon after the crime they change their location to adjoining states and again came after four or six months," an official with the crime unit, said.
Cases of people getting looted, beaten and murdered in Gurugram this year
On December 15, an auto executive lost his life when he took a lift from gang of snatchers near Gurugram Bus stand. The accused had killed the executive and dumped his body near Mahipalpur in Delhi. later the goons were arrested by the Delhi police.
On December 17, Manager of a restaurant, robbed of Rs 10,500 by four men from whom he took a left to go towards on Delhi-Gurugram Expressway.
On December 26 two armed men held the driver of a Toyota Fortuner at gunpoint and snatched the car the crime took place in an upscale area in Gurugram.
Similarly, in the month of April, a Hyundai Creta and Toyota Fortuner were snatched at gunpoint on Dwarka Expressway.
On July 30, An IT executive was robbed of his SUV, phone at a paan shop 300 metres from his residence on Dwarka Expressway.
On May 6, a chartered accountant's Hyundai Creta was snatched at gunpoint by two unidentified youths in Civil lines area.
