Auto thieves are making a killing in Kashmir by lifting parked vehicles whenever they find an opportunity. Earlier, bike thefts were frequently reported by victims in different police stations but now four wheelers are on the radar of auto thieves.
In a latest theft of incident, Sajad Ahmad Khardari of Bangidar village of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district reported at police station Anantnag that on his Santro vehicle (JK03A-8781) has been stolen away by some unknown persons from Bye Pass near Sports Stadium Anantnag.
Police much satisfaction to the affected person registered an FIR vide number 490/2021 under section 379 IPC and assured the victim in affirmative.
There are number of persons from Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district whose vehicles have been stolen and never recovered by police. While talking to victims, it surfaces that alone in Gund area of Kangan, auto thieves have stolen at least 10 vehicles between 2014 and 2021.
“Spending your hard-earned money, you buy a car and one sudden day you are shocked to learn that it has been stolen by auto-thieves. You rely solely on law enforcing agencies but when they fail to retrieve your stolen vehicle, you are left with no option except ruing your fate and mourning,” one of the victims told news agency Kashmir News Trust.
According to reports, auto-thieves have managed to steal 10 vehicles from different areas of Tehsil Gund including Gund, Kullan and Gagangir from year 2014 to 2021 and not a single vehicle has been recovered so for- causing a wave of concern among the people.
Owners of stolen vehicles including Muhammad Yousuf Bhat of Rezan, Fayaz Ahmed Lone of Ravil, Showkat Ahmad Naik and others told this Reporter that that they have lost hope now and don’t expect that they will get their stolen vehicles back.
One of the victims believe that by giving less attention to vehicle theft cases, police are encouraging criminals to commit such crimes without the fear of law.
Auto-thieves even didn’t spare a policeman and stole his vehicle in March this year.
On March 15, 2015, thieves stole Showkat Ahmed Naik’s Tata Somo (JK01P-0692) while on March 23, 2021 thieves stole Police Official Habibullah Lone’s Alto car (JK16A-3713) and on the same day in Gagangir Bashir Ahmed Lone’s Alto car (6301 JK16A) was lifted by thieves. On the intervening night of 19 and 20 November, thieves lifted Abid Nabi Raina’s Alto-800 car bearing registration number (JK16A-8988) while on the same night in Ravil Gund, thieves also stole Shamim Ahmed Malik’s Alto car (JK16B 1964).
In the year 2018, thieves stole i20 vehicle (JK01X-7901) of a medico namely Dr Hakeem from the premises of Primary Health Center Gund. Earlier, in the year 2014 auto-thieves stole Tavera (JK16-5682) from Rayil, two Sumos (JK05B-2566) and (JK5B-7227) from Gagangir Gund. Similarly on 9 November of this month thieves managed to steal a Maruti- 800 (JK01K 6882).
On 7 July, 2014, thieves stole a Tata Somo (JK5B-7227) from Gagangir area. Different FIR’s stand lodged in Police Station Gund with regard to theft of these vehicles, but so for police have not recovered any of the stolen vehicles till date, which has only only led to a steady increase in the number of thefts but has added to sense of insecurity among people.
This month after three latest vehicle theft incidents in Gund, Rayil and Kullan, on the directions of SSP Ganderbal, a massive hunt has been launched to track down the auto-thieves. Different nocturnal check-points have been created in Gund area of Kangan.
The victims have vehemently appealed top police brass of the district to help them in locating their stolen vehicles. (KNT)