KARACHI: As the targeted operation entered its second year in September 2014, the law-enforcement agencies appear to have become more aggressive in chasing suspected criminals, militants and gangsters, but the exercise seems to have proved ineffective in terms of controlling street crimes as the number of mobile phone and motorcycle snatching has registered an upsurge during the first 14 months of the joint action launched by the police and Rangers, it emerged on Sunday.

The statistics released by the Karachi police recently elaborating figures of different crimes and action taken by the law-enforcement agencies suggest that Karachiites have lost 18,519 mobile phones in 421 days since the targeted-operation was launched compared with 11,295 mobile phones they were deprived of in the previous corresponding period.

“Since September 2013 when the operation was launched, the Karachiites have been losing 44 mobile phones a day compared with 27 during the same period before that exercise was launched,” said an official while explaining the Karachi police data.

Karachiites have lost 18,519 mobile phones in 421 days since the targeted operation was launched

“Similarly, a total of 26,040 motorcycles were either snatched or stolen during 421 days of the operation while during the same number of days before the operation, the figures stood at 24,672. It means that since the operation was launched more than 58 people are being deprived of their two-wheelers each day.”

With threats ranging from terrorist attacks to deadly gun battles with gangsters, street criminals and hit men associated with political groups looming large, the Karachi police itself have paid the price for being active mainly against militants and hit men associated with criminal gangs and political parties. The institution lost its 132 personnel in 2014 till October.

While the police and Rangers performance has brought down the number of killings on sectarian, ethnic and political grounds to a certain extent, it has raised questions about the growing number of robberies in streets, including mobile phone and motorbike snatching incidents considered a key indicator of street crimes. However, security experts believe there are reasons behind this trend.

“The operation mainly focused on four heinous crimes — killings, kidnapping for ransom, extortion and street crimes,” said Citizen-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) chief Ahmed Chinoy.

“For three issues — killings, kidnapping for ransom and extortion — there are specialised units of the police with key support from Rangers. That is the reason there is a sharp decline on that side, but the street crime is solely handled by police stations and their performance is definitely not up to the mark.”

He said that the law-enforcement agency on one hand lacked resources at the police station level and on the other they never took mobile phone and motorbike snatching very seriously.

“At the CPLC, we have several times identified areas where the rate of street crime is much higher. The issue can be handled with focus on those areas that included proper deployment and serious surveillance, but unfortunately as I said it was never taken seriously,” added Mr Chinoy.

He suggested immediate reforms at the police station level, including enhancement of resources and checks on performance of personnel performing duties at police stations level.

“This is needed to be done on fast track. Our police are capable enough of handling this menace, but they need support in terms of resources and approach of active policing at the police station level,” suggested the CPLC chief.

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2014