Pickpockets are roaming freely inside the premises of Ramzan Bazaars due to poor security arrangements and collusion between police and administration officials. The pickpockets target the citizens who visit these bazaars for shopping and rob their valuables.
The mounting incidents of robberies occurring at Ramzan bazaars compelled the citizens to complain to the police department. The police officials say they require the CCTV footages of Ramzan bazaars to enquire the situation, while the police officials reportedly in league with female pickpockets allow them to carry out their criminal activities, the citizens alleged.
A large number of stall holders along with customers are also a victim of these robbers. The female pickpockets who get caught accuse the stall holders and citizens of indulging in unethical activities with them. The female pickpockets give a share of their loot to the police officials and together they blackmail the helpless citizens and stall holders, the citizens alleged.
The other day, an innocent shopkeeper was accused by a gang of female pickpockets of indulging in unethical activities with them and called the police. The police released the shopkeeper after the residents of the locality testified his good character; however, the police took Rs 5,000 from the shopkeeper.
The citizens requested the high-ups of police department to take notice of the situation and also take strict action against the security officials involved in these unpleasant incidents.
Meanwhile, there are mounting complaints of high rates and poor quality of food items at Ramazan bazaars. As a result, district authorities have been compelled to take action against the stall holders who sell food items at excessive rates. In this regard, 12 stall holders were charged with a fine of Rs 60,000, while five stall holders were sent to jail.
Cantonment Assistant Commissioner Dr Satish Ahmed visited the Ramazan bazaars at Chungi no.22 and Chohar Chowk. Five vendors were sent to jail and a case was registered against them for organising their push carts outside Ramazan bazaars despite repeated warnings from the authorities.
Seven stall holders of Ramazan bazaar at Chungi no.22 and five stall holders of Ramazan bazaar at Chohar Chowk were charged with a fine of Rs 5,000 each for selling food items at excessive rates and not implementing the actual price list of food items fixed by the district authorities.
