Jobless diamond polishers turn thieves

On December 19, Bhavnagar A-Division police arrested Bharat Patel in connection with the theft of diamonds worth Rs 9 lakh from the polishing unit that had employed him. Investigations revealed that this resident of Bhavnagar city, who now works only in one shift, instead of the regular three, was worried about his livelihood. Hitesh Kachachia 19 also stole diamonds from the unit where he used to work in Savarkundla in Amreli. Kachadia told the police that he had lost his job and stole diamonds to afford expensive medical treatment for his father. He was arrested on December 10. While some jobless diamond industry workers committed suicide, some others took to crime.

Amreli and Bhavnagar, native places of diamond workers, have witnessed a rise in crime graph. Unemployment is forcing some diamond polishers to turn to petty crime. Three cases from Amreli and two from Bhavnagar district were reported last month.

Together, these two districts have 3,000 polishing units and half of them never opened after Diwali. The others are running only one shift, instead of the regular three shifts. Diamond workers caught in theft cases have no previous crime record.