Manoj Kumar Ojha
Guwahati: Pulsar Bike, gulf cap, action footwear and smartphones with fluency in English on tongue. Yes, This is the “Ultra Modern Gang of Betel-Nut Thieves,” active in Assam’s Tinsukia district these days.
But it was not a favourable wee hours of 30 June .
One of them was caught red handed and given “Uttam-Madhayam ( beaten lovingly) .
They had allegedly entered in Sanjay Ray’s Tambul- Bari ( Betel nut orchard) to steal.
A resident of Parvati Pur 10 Number in Phillobari, some 547 kilometers from capital Guwahati, Sanjay told OUR INDIA, “We were alert this time because on 27 June also the gang had entered into our Orchard . My mother noticed first their arrival and sounds. They were moving backwards and forwards in the Orchard. Later we brothers got up and caught one of them,”.
“Just given an affectionate slap to him . He said let me sit , I am not going to escape but he escaped as soon as we left him . Later we found the bike key , cap and footwear. They were many,” Sanjay added .
Sanjay informed that an FIR has been lodged in Phillobari police station.
Our sources in police said that the pulsar bike bearing number AS 23 AD 0791 ,the cap and footwear have been seized and one person has been detained in this connection who said that actually his petrol was empty so had gone to ask for petrol which was misunderstood. The FIR was not registered till filing the report.
However, Sanjay said, ” If someone comes to ask for petrol he will knock the door and will not visit the Betel nut orchard. “
A CCTV footage of the same area ar 250 meters distance only shows a young man revolving around a shop few hours ago when the incident occurred.
However, the Tinsukia police has started a deep investigation into the matter and said people to remain alert from the thieves gang and inform police immediately if any anti social elements roaming around in any areas .
Phillobari is a famous historical village in Tinsukia district of upper Assam known for agricultural produce like Betel nut, tea leaves, oranges, bananas and vegetables.
General the people here live very peacefully but the rising price of betel nut ( Rs 360 to 400 per 80 betel nut) have brought it into the eyes of the ultra modern gangs also .
However, the intellectuals see it as a result of growing unemployment problems among youths in rural belts during Bhartiya Janata party government rule in the state.