Muggers have become more desperate despite special drives to nab miscreants in the capital.
About 72 people were admitted to hospitals after becoming victims in the hands of the criminals in the last two weeks though police captured about 679 muggers during the drivesin the last 14 days, according to hospitals and DMP sources.
Sources in the two city corporations said about 5,919 street lights remain damaged at different points.
On July 2, constable Moniruzzamna was killed by some muggers at Farmgate. After that, the DMP launched special drives.
However, in the last 14 days, about 44 people took treatment at National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation, popularly known as Pangu Hospital, after being injured by snatchers, no fewer than 15 people at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) and some 13 people at Sir Salimullah Medical College and Mitford Hospital.
On July 12 morning, Siraj Mia, a CNG-run vehicle driver, came under the attack of some snatchers at Chand Udyan in Mohammadpur.
Stabbing him with a knife, the criminals forcibly took his vehicle. Siraj, who sustained injuries at his two hands and legs, are now undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). Two muggers riding on a motorbike snatched a bag containing a mobile set, Tk 5,000, office ID and an ATM card from Mahmudul Hasan, a journalist of Bhorer Kagoj, at Fakirapool Water Pump at about 12:30am on July 12.
Talking to the Daily Sun, Dr Khandaker Mahid Uddin, additional commissioner (crime and operations) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), said it is true that some mugging incidents have occurred amid drives.
“But we are trying our best to stop such incidents. Actually, we arrest the criminals, but they return to their old jobs after getting bail from courts. However, we will continue our raids until the capital is freed from the criminals,” he said.
In response to a question whether there is any loophole in the first information reports (FIRs) against the muggers, he replied in the negative.
On the snatching at the points having no street lights, the police officer has said that the DMP will send a letter to the city corporations to set up new lights. Police said most of such crimes occur from 12:00am to 6:00am.
Night coaches from different parts, particularly north region, enter the capital and drop passengers at night. As the counters of the company remain stopped at night, the passengers have no places to wait.
They have to travel for their destinations taking risk. Many times, such passengers face the muggers.
According to the DMP, there are 6,198 listed muggers and robbers in the city.
