The sporadic incidents of unreported theft in Assam’s rural belts and riverlands are on rise because of unemployment during the nationwide lockdown to prevent the coronavirus outbreak.
According to top police officers, the crime graph, especially of theft and loot, had dropped of late, excepting a few.
However, on Monday night, several sporadic incidents of theft came to light.
“Last night, thieves stole around 50 bricks from my backyard. Many have complained about kitchen appliances being stolen. They may not be professional thieves, it could be out-of-job poor daily-wage workers who may not be even getting the ration through the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana for lack of documents,” Abhijit Khataniar, a teacher here at St Mary’s High School, said.
Khataniar, a permanent resident of Trolley Line under Daimukhia gaon panchayat under Doomdooma subdivision, said there is a sizeable population of daily-wage workers in the area.
Although the government has given certain relaxations from Monday, the workers remained at home on Tuesday because of bad weather.
Ajij Miyan, a resident of Beesakopie, a mason, said, “I am ready to work and had visited the construction site but my employer sent me back saying he cannot pay me now because he himself has not been paid.”
In another incident, a thief entered the house of Sugandha Mishra, a local resident here, ate up the food and fled.
“This morning when I entered my kitchen, the place was strewn with food with a note: “Khuri, beya na pabo, bhuk lagisile, du din dhari eku khowa nasilung, aapunar karnneu banaithoisung, khailobo.” (Aunty, please don’t mind, I was hungry for two days, I have cooked for you too, please have it.),” Sugandha said.
Thieves are stealing fruits and vegetables too and sometimes domestic chickens. The villagers understand this new trend and are trying to be considerate.
“There has been no incident of theft in the past 20 years in our village. These are difficult times,” Khataniar said.
“The government machinery has been helping the needy people, NGOs too. If someone is in need, he should come forward to get help. Lawful action will be taken if any anyone found involved in antisocial activities or breaking the law,” Shiladitya Chetia, superintendent of police, Tinsukia, said.
In the wake of these incidents, Upper Assam’s Tinsukia district administration has launched an operation against the illegal fishing during breeding period at Maguri Motapung Beel on Tuesday.
A team consisting of assistant commissioner of Tinsukia district Bhaskar Jyoti Bora, fisheries development officer Pranjal Kumar Das, deputy ranger of Guijan forest range Biren Baruah, officer-in-charge of Guijan police outpost Leelakanta Chutia and others launched a massive operation in the beel and seized around 300kg of fish along with various apparatuses of catching fish and two boats.
“The seized fish was released in the beel again. Three temporary camps of fishermen were also dismantled by the team, Sensing the arrival of the operation team, the fishermen fled from the scene,” Bhaskar Jyoti Bora, AC, told The Telegraph.