A relentless crime spree has sent shockwaves through Punjab's Doaba region, with over a dozen incidents of theft, armed robbery, and cyber fraud reported within just a few days. Districts including Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar have been targeted, leaving residents and business owners in a state of fear and demanding urgent security enhancements.
Major Heists and Brave Rescues
In one of the most audacious crimes, a gang of around a dozen masked thieves looted gold and silver ornaments worth Rs 70-80 lakh from Babbar Jewellers in Jalandhar's Shahid Babu Labh Singh Nagar. The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday, December 30. According to police citing CCTV footage, the suspects, wearing masks and gloves, used iron rods and a shawl to uproot the shop's shutter around 2:30 am, completing the theft in barely 10 minutes before fleeing.
Just two days prior, on December 28, a robbery attempt was foiled by quick-thinking shop owners in Jalandhar West. Two masked men, armed with pistols, entered a jewellery shop in a crowded market area. They pretended to enquire about a silver bracelet before brandishing weapons at the woman at the counter. Her husband, Vipin Verma, reacted instantly, climbing over the counter and pushing the robbers out, with his wife following. The assailants escaped as locals gathered.
A Pattern of Crime Across Districts
The crime wave was not confined to Jalandhar. On December 26, armed robbers barged into the house of Lakhwinder Singh in the Awalpur area, looting cash worth Rs 1 lakh and 100 grams of gold valued at Rs 12-13 lakh at gunpoint. On Christmas Day, thieves struck four houses in Rampur Jagir village, stealing jewellery and cash, despite a police post being located just one kilometre away.
Other significant incidents include an ATM heist in Phagwara's Khajurala village, where unidentified thieves uprooted a State Bank of India ATM and escaped with Rs 27 lakh in cash between 3 and 3:30 am on December 28. In a separate case of cyber fraud in Jalandhar's Jain Colony, a resident named Amritpal Singh was defrauded of Rs 12.17 lakh through a fake online investment app.
Police Action and Political Reactions
Police have reported some breakthroughs. On December 27, following a brief encounter near Garhshankar in Hoshiarpur, three robbery suspects were arrested. One suspect, Onkar Singh alias Gora, was injured in the leg during an exchange of fire. The police recovered two country-made pistols and linked the trio to a previous robbery at a money changer's shop in Mahilpur.
Authorities stated that CCTV footage has become a critical tool for tracking suspects and their vehicles, especially as dense winter fog is believed to be aiding criminals. While police claim intensified patrols and intelligence-based operations are ongoing, the business community is vocal about its concerns.
The issue has also taken a political turn. Congress MLA for Jalandhar Cantt, Pargat Singh, accused the AAP government of failing to maintain law and order, stating that Punjab has become "one of the worst states" in this regard. He claimed incidents of firing, killings, and armed robberies have created widespread fear among residents and traders.
As investigations continue, the repeated incidents over a short span have highlighted serious challenges to public safety in the region, with calls for stronger policing, faster response times, and upgraded surveillance infrastructure growing louder.
