Traders disappointed as cops ‘refuse’ to register FIR over theft complaints

On January 9, a grocery shop was burgled of Rs 15,000, but the police were yet to register an FIR. “Though CCTV footage were submitted, the Bagayam police asked me to sign a statement saying that only Rs 3,000 was stolen from the shop. Even after I lodged a complaint, police did not register an FIR,” one of the shopkeepers said. “The CCTV footage showed four persons making a hole on the shutter, sneaking into the shop and stealing the cash during the wee hours,” he added.

Similarly, an unsuccessful attempt was made at a nearby pawn broker’s shop at 1.17 am on January 3. As the iron grill gate at the shop proved too hard for the intruders to break, they left the spot. In this case too, the shopkeeper alleged that the police advised him to give a statement that nothing was lost.

Just a couple of days ago, robbers fled with 1 kg of silver was robbed from a jewel shop at Poigai, 12 km from Vellore and also targeted another jewel shop at nearby Pallikonda. Traders are annoyed by the fact that the police have not taken any serious action to check the increasing rate of thefts. “We suspect that a particular gang is involved in all these thefts,” the traders said.

Sources also revealed that batteries from six two-wheelers parked inside the compound of a two-wheeler company on Otteri lake road were robbed.

But, the shop owner, who was reportedly well aware of the police response to the past cases, refused to lodge a complaint, sources revealed.

When asked about police inaction, Vellore SP Pravesh Kumar said, “If personnel at police stations refuse to accept complaints, victims can approach come me any time.”