New Delhi: Aas Mohammad (35), a resident of South Delhi, was returning home one evening in a DTC bus, when he felt someone picking his wallet. He quickly turned around and shouted as he saw a delinquent stealing his wallet.
When his co-passengers interfered, one of the boys from the gang threatened that they were equipped with knife and blade. This is one amongst the many pick-pocketing incidents that occur on a daily basis in Delhi’s DTC buses.
More than 35 lakh people commute in the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses across the city. Its vast network, coupled with economical feasibility, has made it a boon for daily commuters. However, it has now become a hub for petty criminals, including pickpockets.
There have been several cases when pickpockets have swiftly snatched wallets and other belongings from the commuters in broad daylight.
A group of pickpockets boards the bus and strategically positions themselves across it, from the entry and exit, almost forming a chain. They usually target buses which are jam-packed, where they can steal easily and escape.
The Additional Station House Officer (SHO) of North East District, Veer Singh Tyagi, said, “We receive nearly 250 complaints of pick-pocketing in a month, and there is no specific network running of these pickpockets. In the last 2-3 years, the cases of theft in the business have increased.”
He further added that they always work in a group.
The network relies on strong cooperation. The moment one of them is caught, they hand over the stolen object to another group member, who then quickly de-boards the bus. “To avoid being punished, the pickpockets always carry a knife and blade. They hide the weapons in between their toes and mouth and attack when caught,” Singh said, claiming this has resulted in fear among the commuters.
Neeraj Bhagat (25), a regular commuter, has encountered several horrific incidents. “I live in Shalimar Garden and I have often witnessed violence because of pick-pocketing in buses. I have also caught a pickpocket when he tried to steal my wallet. I alerted the other passengers, who then stopped the bus and threw him out.”
Daily commuters are aware of the deception of the pickpockets, but those new to the public transport easily get caught in their trap. The police and public blame each other for the proliferation of this menace.
The people say that the police do not take any action against the perpetrators. On the other hand, the police insist that people don’t co-operate with them.