Crime activity grips Khulna’s Daulatpur

A worrying rise in theft, mugging, drug activity, and juvenile gang operations has left residents of the Pabla area in Daulatpur increasingly anxious, with many expressing frustration over what they see as an inadequate law enforcement response.

Locals say a pattern of recurring crimes including house break-ins, street muggings, and even kidnappings in some cases has spread beyond isolated incidents into a daily reality.

Drug users reportedly gather openly from morning until late at night, while the presence of teenage gangs continues to grow.

On April 9, around 1:15 pm, a gold chain weighing approximately 10 annas was snatched from a woman in broad daylight near a primary school adjacent to Pabla Sabuj Sangha. The victim, Jolly Rani, was riding on a motorcycle with her husband when two helmeted assailants carried out the attack. The stolen chain is estimated to be worth around Tk 180,000. A complaint has been filed with the Daulatpur Police Station.

The same family had earlier suffered a burglary during Ramadan, when thieves cut through window grills and stole valuables. Similar incidents have affected other journalists and residents in the area in recent weeks.

According to locals, organized gangs are behind a string of thefts, often breaking locks or gates under the cover of darkness. In one recent case, thieves entered a house, stole mobile phones and cash from an upstairs room, and later took a water pump from the ground floor. Copper wires were also stolen from a rural power transformer in January.

Residents allege that despite repeated complaints, no suspects have been arrested, emboldening criminal groups.

Community leaders point to drug abuse as a key driver of rising crime. “These incidents have become almost routine,” said a local representative, adding that while police efforts exist, they have yet to yield effective results.

However, police officials insist the situation is improving. Officer-in-Charge Shafiqul Islam said multiple patrol teams have been deployed, and efforts are underway to identify suspects using CCTV footage.

He also claimed that several offenders have already been apprehended and that recent operations led to the seizure of 12 kilograms of cannabis and the filing of three cases.
Despite these assurances, residents remain skeptical, calling for stronger and more visible action to restore safety in the area.