Mugging is on the rise in the capital city and its adjacent areas, with victims getting killed and injured by muggers. Most of the mugging incidents go unreported as victims are generally reluctant to lodge complaints with the police in connection with such incidents. Gangs of muggers usually target people returning from abroad and others on their way to and from work. Dhaka Metropolitan Police statistics show that mugging incidents have been increasing the past few years, with the highest 176 cases of snatching reported in 2020. Earlier, 83 such cases were reported in 2018 and 119 in 2019.
The police said that they received complaints about 83 mugging incidents in Dhaka and adjacent areas in the first seven months of 2021 while at least 10 victims were killed by muggers in the first 10 months of the year as per media reports. Despite sporadic raids and arrests made by law enforcement agencies, many mugging gangs are active across the capital. Police high-ups said that they had recently noticed a sharp rise in snatching incidents, adding that they have beefed up vigilance and night patrol, and increased the number of raids to nab the perpetrators and prevent such incidents.
The law enforcers have recently caught some snatchers and found that they are mostly drug addicts. When they are short of money for buying drugs, they rob people of money and valuables. We must say, the law enforcers should focus on stopping drug addiction of street children and teach community people how to stay protected and seek help when in danger. To avoid harassment, people nowadays avoid any unusual call for help as in some instances they do not get police support. With the vigilance of law enforcers, rehabilitation of drug addicts, and practice of self-protection rule, we can significantly reduce the number of mugging incidents. The law enforcers should beef up security while the citizens should learn how to outsmart muggers by following some basic techniques.
