Pics: Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Oct 27: The police department has put up a number of banners all over the district, warning the people to be vigilant about the mushrooming breed of chain snatchers. In addition to the warning, the banners also give the telephone numbers of the police stations of the area. Perhaps, feeling that the ladies will be more careful if it is pointed out that the chains worn by them have more value than just the worldly one, the banners also proclaim, 'Mangalyas are sacred'.

Of course, the incidents of chain snatching have been on the rise in the district, even under broad daylight, since the last several months. There has been an alarming increase in the number of crimes not only in urban areas, but also in villages. The thieves, who are usually motor bike-born, seem to be buoyed by the fact that they are hardly traced and that the efforts are minimum and rewards aplenty. It may be noted that in one such incident last month, the chain-snatchers ran away with booty of over five lac rupees, as they tugged at, and took away a vanity bag of a woman containing gold ornaments, when she resisted their attempt to snap her chain.

The people in general however, are not impressed by the efforts of the policemen. They are unhappy that the policemen have been unable to control this menace. While it is true that banners do spread awareness and there is a need for the people to be more vigilant and alert, it can not be denied that literacy is high in the district and people are normally aware of such things. The thing that is most worrisome for the people is the fact that, with the advent of fast-paced development and scarcity of local labourers, people from various states and districts are working in different sectors in the district. A number of vehicles bearing registration numbers of different states and district move about even in remote villages, and there is no tab on them. As more and more strangers take to streets, it becomes impossible for the general public to gauge as to whether they are workers or thieves in the garb of labourers.

The people feel that the least the government can do, is to make it mandatory for all the casual workers coming from other places to get themselves registered, by issuing identity cards to them. They have also been pointing out that there has been an alarming rise in the incidents of theft at night too and want the policemen to intensify patrolling.