Ludhiana: The Ludhiana police found themselves in the crosshairs of frustrated businessmen during a public meeting on Wednesday evening. The assembly, convened just a day after a masked robber attacked a trader with an ice pick in Saidan Chowk, saw various trade associations from the Old City voice a stinging critique of the city’s deteriorating law and order situation. In attendance were station house officers (SHOs) from the Central sub-division, assistant commissioner of police-central Anil Kumar, additionjal deputy commissioner of police-1 Sameer Verma, and politicians across party lines.Traders at the meeting did not mince words, sharing accounts of targeted thefts and the subsequent apathy of law enforcement. One factory owner from the Division Number 4 area recounted a demoralising experience after a theft of a Rs 12,000 battery. He claimed that after spending additional funds to arrange bills and purchase three pen drives to provide CCTV footage to the police, his case was still never registered.The grievances highlighted a systemic reluctance to file FIRs. One businessman shared how he caught a thief red-handed inside his factory, only for police to refuse a case because the crime had not yet been executed. Another entrepreneur from Bajwa Nagar reported being burgled three times without a single FIR being lodged, stating that officials consistently cite a staff crunch as the reason for their inaction.A climate of fearThe sense of security in the industrial hub appears to have evaporated. Business owners reported that labourers are targeted by snatchers almost every other day, making it unsafe to carry cash. “I wake up in the middle of the night to check my factory CCTVs to ensure everything is safe,” one businessman admitted, reflecting the widespread anxiety.In response to the outcry, police officials promised increased patrolling and extra personnel for high-risk stations. On Thursday, police commissioner Swapan Sharma held a follow-up briefing with the force to strategise.“We are increasing patrolling in the most affected areas, doubling the PCR teams in certain beats,” Sharma stated. While the commissioner urged traders to install more CCTV cameras to aid surveillance, he emphasised that the police are determined to restore safety and order to the city’s commercial arteries.
