Pickpockets have a field day

SURAT, Nov 2: Daily commuters by the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation city bus service from the railway station to different parts o...

SURAT, Nov 2: Daily commuters by the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation city bus service from the railway station to different parts of the city have to put with the menace of organised gangs of pickpockets despite an assurance by the police, more than a couple of months ago, that the menace would be checked.

And with the police looking the other way and the bus stop authorities expressing helplessness in checking the crime, passengers have no option but to take care of their belongings themselves or keep mum if they belongings are lost.

It may be noted that after Express Newsline dated August 28 reported the modus operandi used by pickpockets, three plain clothed policemen and a couple of eyewitnesses, who recognised the gang members by face, had travelled in the 3 pm Station-Ichhanath bus route, on which the gang operated almost on a daily basis. However, none of the members boarded the bus that particular day. With over two months passing since, the bus authorities admit that they have been mute spectators to the practice, which is still thriving.

8220;I travel to Ichhanath regularly by this bus and have noticed this gang more than three times a week,8221; says Dilipbhai Prajapati. For the unsuspecting newcomers, this gang resembles college students as they have bags and are neatly dressed but the old timers, like Loksatta senior reporter Bhupendra Barot are not fooled. 8220;These people even bash up those who dare to pick up arguments with them,8221; Barot says.

Police officials admit the existence of organised pickpockets and say this is a common phenomenon on all routes, including the CBS, Chowk, and the Athwa-Bhatar route.

Members of these gangs are very decentralised unlike earlier days when all gangs were controlled by one bigwig, says DCP K K Oza, who took charge recently. Oza, while assuring that more traps would be laid on the route and the gang would be netted soon, rubbishes allegations about police involvement.

He said it had come to the police8217;s notice that a number of unemployed youths from Nandubar on the Gujarat-Maharashtra border were involved in pickpocketing, both in trains and buses.

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The bus stand authorities, too, admit the practice but express helplessness. Citing an instance that occurred six months ago, they say when one conductor Javed Shaikh attempted to prevent a pickpocket from escaping with a stolen wallet he was stabbed.

Agrees one of the conductors, 8220;These gang members do not even purchase tickets most of the time8221;.

So while pickpockets make merry, it remains to be seen whether police assurances result in concrete action or just remain on paper.