AS sacrificial animals, mostly cattle started arriving at designated markets in the capital and in the outskirt of the city, traders are reportedly facing growing harassment by extortionists and muggers on way to reach the markets. Cattle traders are falling victims to small gangs of muggers under the cover of local influential people. Law enforcers are onlookers in most cases or even taking tolls when muggers are trying to divert trucks from going to the designated market and move towards unauthorized markets. Ruling party men have opened at least 10 such markets in the city and they have engaged local youths to force traders to take their cattle to their market. The biggest risk for traders is to protect the cattle and cash on sale and they must be vigilant to keep safe.
We must say truck drivers and cattle traders are not enough knowledgeable and also have no ability to resist such pressure. Only the law enforcers can give protection of free movement to them and their trucks. Muggers must be held back and punished and the influential people instigating them must be held in check. Political leaders at every locality must give protection to traders instead of protecting unruly elements creating bottleneck to traders. Traders on the other hand should also keep in mind that they should not take cattle at city center or on roadside that may make city life unclean and footpaths dirty for pedestrians.
We don’t know how some people can open unauthorized cattle market without permission from City Corporation – be it in the South or North. They are definitely powerful depriving the local body of revenue while creating extra law and order situation centering the unauthorized market. In our view the government has enough time in hands to close such market and stop such other crimes such as drug peddling and trading of fake notes; which will be easier in relatively less vigilant places.
Given the extensive allegations of crimes by traders and truck owners alike, the police may be well advised not to dismiss the reports so lightly. Every indication suggests that there is a whole hot of vandalism and crimes taking place in and around the cattle markets. Thus, the government should look into the matter urgently, especially given that most of the allegations are either against police or against gangs protected by party men. Muggers are also reportedly disturbing traders on the highways as cattle loaded trucks are heading towards the city. The extortion is widespread but subtle under one another cover. It is incumbent upon the Highway Police to keep vigilance and give protection to traders. In no way they should be harassed.
