Robberies on the increase in Jalalabad city

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): Incidents of mobile snatching and robberies have been on the increase in the capital of eastern Nangarhar province, the residents and provincial council members say.

Robberies ranging from car-lifting to snatching mobile phones and looting shops are among growing incidents the residents are concerned about.

Dr. Nasir Kamawal, a member of the provincial council, told Pajhwok Afghan News these incidents had lately increased in the face of little efforts to prevent such incidents.

“We have held meetings with security officials on the issue and have shared people’s concern with them in this regard,” the public representative said. He said the provincial administration should prevent robberies.

Another member of the council, Suhrab Qaderi, told Pajhwok Afghan News that shopkeepers used to close their shops early and return home before evening as they feared being robbed.

He said the thieves laced with pistols and knives used to wait for their prey on roads. The public representative held police responsible for the matter, saying the force had been unable to prevent robberies despite they had many times shared people’s concern with the police.

The provincial council secretary, Zabihullah Zamarai, confirmed robberies had increased in Jalalabad, but said the same situation prevailed in other provinces. He hoped police would control the situation with people’s cooperation.

Zhwand civil society organisation head and journalist Ikramullah Ikram said: “About 15 days ago, our office which is in front of the fourth police district was robbed in broad daylight.”

He said the robbery took place at 9am and computers and other journalistic equipment were stolen. “We informed the police and they launched investigation, but so far we have not been shared any progress.”

Shamshad TV reporter Abdul Latif Ihsas recalled: “I few days ago, I was walking in the city and was talking on phone, when suddenly someone snatched my phone and disappeared in crowd.” He said such incidents had increased in the city.

Saifullah Safi, a resident of Jalalabad, said last week he parked his car in Joy Haft area and a few minutes later found his box containing his camera and other tools was missing from the car seat. “Despite many efforts, I could not find the box.”

Civil society activist Abu Bakkar Alizai said he was walking past the Eid Gah mosque last week when some gunmen intercepted him and robbed him of money and his hand box. The incident terrified him and now he used to leave for home early, Alizai said.

Attaullah Khogyani, the provincial government spokesman, said: “Some time ago many robbery incidents would take place in the city, the governor has directly the military commission to prevent them.”

He said a number of individuals had been arrested in connection with robberies and theft and were currently under investigation. He did not provide figure for the arrested persons.

Crime investigation department has so far said nothing in this regard. Police spokesman Hazrat Hussain Mashriqiwal said police had intensified their efforts to curb robberies and had arrested dozens of suspects so far.

“We have launched a search operation in the city and are not allowing pillion-riding, Mashritiqwal said, acknowledging robberies had increased, but said if anyone had information about suspected robbers, they should share it with police.

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