Residents, intellectuals and civil society leaders on Friday said frequent police patrolling on the Tinsukia bypass road can reduce increasing incidents of loot in Tinsukia district of Upper Assam.

There has been an alarming rise in incidents of loot at Tinsukia bypass road in town and across the district in recent months.

Six incidents of loot were reported within the last four days across the districts.

On January 29, an ATM at Rupai Siding was looted by dacoits in broad daylight. One armed guard and a dacoit were killed in counter firing.

“Tinsukia police have been taking all possible steps to prevent any unlawful incident across the district. However, recent incidents of reports show that the senior police officers ought to take some strategic measures to prevent the increasing incidents like regular police patrolling on Tinsukia bypass round the clock and in towns and remote areas across the districts,” Irot Tanti, the secretary of Assam Tea Tribe Students Association, told The Telegraph.

“The bypass from Panitola to Talap in Tinsukia district, which was completed on August 12, 2017, has become risky for commuters. Earlier, there was little movement on that road but as soon as it was connected with Talap and Kakopathar last year, incidents of loot started. We appeal to the police department to take necessary steps to protect life and property,” Tanti said.

The bypass is surrounded by tea gardens, far from inhabited areas.

The number of commuters is also low and goons take advantage of it. The bypass is also used by school and college students, women working in tea fields, long-distance travellers and tourists.

The residents of Makum, Sukreting, Nepali Gaon, Fatikjan, Bordubi and Phillobari also expressed concern over the crimes.

The supervisor of a stone-crushing unit, Baikuntha Handique, 26, who has been suspected to be kidnapped by a militant outfit from Jagun on Tuesday, is still untraced.

“We are taking necessary steps to trace him,” a senior police officer said.