In a brazen overnight operation, burglars targeted three commercial establishments at the bustling Pandra Bazaar in Ranchi, making off with cash and a stash of grocery items. The incident, which occurred on Friday night, has sent shockwaves through the local trader community and highlighted glaring security vulnerabilities in the market area.
Modus Operandi: Entry Through Breached Walls
The thieves executed their plan by creating holes in the rear walls of the shops to gain entry, completely bypassing the main entrances. Once inside, they conducted a thorough sweep, stealing undisclosed amounts of cash, multiple boxes of cold drinks, and several other valuable items. The precision of the break-ins suggests a well-planned operation targeting specific shops within the bazaar.
Traders Voice Anger Over Inadequate Security
The following day, on Saturday, agitated traders and local representatives gathered, expressing their frustration over what they describe as a rising trend of thefts in the zone. A primary point of contention is the critically understaffed security force guarding the vast market premises.
Santosh Singh, a local trader, laid bare the alarming statistics: "The Bazaar Samiti is spread across a massive 63 acres of land. To secure such a large area effectively, we require at least 30 guards. However, the current strength is a mere four guards, which is utterly insufficient." This severe shortage, according to the traders, creates an open invitation for criminals.
Police Response and Structural Vulnerabilities
Faiz Rabbani, the in-charge of Pandra police station, confirmed that the matter is under investigation and a First Information Report (FIR) will be formally registered. He corroborated the traders' concerns about the physical state of the market's perimeter, pointing to a fundamental infrastructural flaw.
"The boundary wall enclosing the entire premises is broken at multiple locations," Rabbani stated. These breaches in the wall provide easy access for miscreants to enter the compound under the cover of darkness, rendering the shops inside highly vulnerable.
The incident has sparked a renewed demand from the Pandra Bazaar business community for immediate action. They are urging the market authorities and local police to not only investigate this specific burglary but also to address the root causes—the dilapidated boundary and the acute shortage of security personnel—to prevent such crimes from recurring in the future.
