Traders a soft target for criminals in Ggn

The traders' community in the city has yet again expressed its concern over the exponential rise in crimes worsening law and order in and around Gurugram. Many traders have highlighted that for a long time they have been soft targets for gangs in Gurugram.

Traders in Sadar Bazaar, Sohna and Jacobpura area said that in addition to thefts, their community has also been on the receiving end of extortions, kidnappings and even murders.

On Thursday, Gurugram Police had arrested four people for extorting a sum of Rs 20 lakh from a trader in Sohna. The extortionists had threatened the trader to kill his son if the amount was not paid. In another incident, two traders narrowly escaped death after being shot at in Sohna. The brazenness of such acts and the lack of arrests by police have caused the traders association of Sohna to protest against the situation of law and order.

They also highlighted the need for higher police vigilance in the outskirts of the city, such as in Sohna and Pataudi, where the frequency of crimes against traders is rising rapidly.

"There is no doubt that a trader in the city does not feel safe and secure. Today, he can be easily targeted and harmed by gangsters. Not only are these gangsters targeting the traders by carrying massive thefts, they are also killing those who do not concede to their demands," said Pawan Bansal, who runs a garment shop in Sadar Bazaar.

"As the level of police presence is slightly more than in the outskirt areas of Gurugram, we are slightly lucky. However, in Sohna and Pataudi, there are repeated complaints of traders getting threats from criminal gangs for extortion.

The gangs have also started murdering traders because most of the criminals feel that they can get away from doing so," added Bansal. Rao Mohar Singh, who sells construction materials and has a shop in Kherki Dhaula, said: "Traders have now started taking preventive measures. Most of them possess a licensed weapon and also spend huge sums for their personal security." A senior cop added: "We are taking various steps to ensure that the traders' community in the city remains safe. Gurugram Police have made arrests in the cases."