Patna Law and Order Crisis: Suspicious Deaths and Unchecked Thefts Spark Outrage
Patna: A surge in criminal activity continues to grip Patna, with two deaths under suspicious circumstances, a daring jewelry shop robbery, and multiple thefts across the city. Despite efforts by law enforcement, no significant progress has been made in resolving these cases. City SP Sweety Sahrawat remains optimistic, claiming that the police are closing in on the criminals, but no arrests have been made yet.
On November 8, during the last day of the Chhath festival, the bodies of two young men were discovered in separate rooms near Bas Kothi Gate No. 93 in the Digha police station area. Both victims, identified as Vicky Kumar (40) from Vaishali district and Mahadev Kumar from Saharsa district, had been living in rented accommodations. Vicky worked as a mason, while Mahadev was a street vendor selling golgappas. The scene raised further suspicions when playing cards and matchsticks were found at the spot, and a woman who reportedly lived there has been missing since the incident.
Police have made no headway in solving the case. The investigation is ongoing, but the families and local residents are growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress.
In a brazen robbery on the evening of November 9, armed criminals stormed into the Tanishq Jewellery Shop at Colony Mor in Kankarbagh. Within a mere one minute and 40 seconds, the four assailants made off with ₹2.55 lakh in cash and jewelry. The audacity of the heist was highlighted by its proximity to the residence of DGP Alok Raj, which is only 200 meters from the crime scene. Despite the high-profile nature of the case, no arrests have been made so far.
During the Chhath Puja period, thieves targeted nine homes across various police station areas in Patna, stealing large sums of money and valuables. The most significant theft occurred in Kadamkuan, where the residence of Neel Kamal Singh, a mobile phone businessman, was looted. Thieves took ₹5 lakh in cash and jewelry worth ₹65 lakh while the family was away for Chhath festivities. Similarly, in Jakkanpur, thieves broke into Shashi Singh’s home, escaping with ₹20 lakh in cash and ₹2.5 lakh worth of jewelry while the family was visiting relatives.
In Rajivnagar, ₹2.35 lakh in cash and ₹8 lakh in jewelry were stolen from the house of Nagendra Kumar Tiwari, an accountant, who was away with his family. The Gandhi Maidan area saw the theft of ₹1 lakh in cash from a mobile shopkeeper, while in AG Colony, thieves looted jewelry worth ₹3 lakh and ₹1.4 lakh in cash from Dinesh Kumar’s home.
Other incidents occurred in Gardanibagh, where two houses were targeted, resulting in the theft of ₹2 lakh in cash and a laptop. Meanwhile, in Kankarbagh PC Colony, two homes were looted of jewelry and cash worth ₹35 lakh while the families were away for Chhath celebrations.
Police claim that investigations are ongoing and progress is being made, but for now, the residents of Patna await justice and resolution.