Increased theft, robbery force villagers to guard houses at night in Bogura

Tojam was returning home in a pickup truck buying six buffaloes from the City Bazar in Rajshahi. On the way, he was caught by a group of robbers at Sherpur upazila in Bogura. The robbers blocked the road with trees. Along with the buffaloes, they also robbed the mobile phones of Tojam and his companions. Moreover, several people traveling on the road at that time also became victims of robbery.

The incident took place around 9:30pm on October 15. Tojam and his companions are residents from Godarbag village in Kazipur upazila of Sirajganj.

A brutal robbery took place at Chamrul Talukdarpara village in Dupchanchia upazila in Bogura at 1:15 am on October 25. Abdul Halim and his family members were asleep when a group of 13-14 robbers entered his house. The robbers woke up Halim, his wife and daughter and severely beat them up. Later, they robbed four cows, gold jewelry and three mobile phones.

On October 10 noon, Shajahan Ali's battery-powered autorickshaw was stolen from Andikumra village in Sherpur upazila in the district.

A group of robbers entered Chalitabari village in Bogura Sadar upazila after 11pm on November 27. When Swapna Khatun, a resident of the village, woke up late at night and went out of her house, she saw that the door was locked from outside. Her neighbours came to her rescue after hearing her screams. Later, when she went to the cowshed, she saw that the cows were gone. Her two cows had been stolen.

Before entering Swapna Khatun's house, the robbers also locked the doors of two neighbouring houses from outside, stole their cows and fled.

Swapna Khatun and her husband Shah Alam alleged that there has been a sudden increase in cow theft in the village. To prevent theft and robbery, they are guarding the village at night. Each night, a different team is on guard.

Md Hashem, a businessman from Talora Bazar of Dupchanchia upazila, said, “The incidents of theft and robbery have increased a lot. In the last one month, three incidents of robbery have occurred in the Talora area alone. Everyone is in panic about the law-and-order situation.”

However, members of the law enforcement agencies have arrested many people in various operations on charges of involvement in theft and robbery. Some of the stolen goods are also being recovered.

According to the district police, there have been five robberies and 145 theft cases in Bogura till December 8 this year.

Several victims alleged that the police station authorities do not easily register theft and robbery cases. The police only ask them to file a written complaint. They are not even given a receipt copy of the complaint. They do not know whether the complaint has been recorded at the police station or not.

Bogura Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime) Md Asaduzzaman said, “Thefts and robberies are taking place, the people involved are being arrested and the goods are being recovered. The police are taking a strict stand to prevent theft and robbery.”