The Jewar incident has once again highlighted how unsafe highways in Uttar Pradesh are.
Among the most vulnerable spots is the Bulandshahr highway. The UP police had, in fact, identified active gangs on this stretch last year, but no concrete action has been taken yet.
Last month, armed assailants had tried to rob commuters between the Mathura and Jewar toll plazas. When their attempts at stopping the vehicles failed, they took to throwing stones and even firing at the targets. Though no casualty was reported, six persons were injured.
Earlier in January, three persons were injured when armed men looted cash and valuables worth ₹5 lakh from a luxury bus near Aligarh. Before targeting the bus, the criminals had allegedly barged into an under-construction farm house belonging to a retired police officer. They had beat up the staff and construction workers, including two women, there.
Recently, the Greater Noida police had arrested two youths — including a Class X student — accused of looting jewellery worth ₹10 lakh from a family travelling from Kanpur to Delhi on December 26, 2016.
Will ensure safety: SSP
The number of criminals arrested, however, is far less than the incidents of commuters being attacked.
The police, meanwhile, have asked people to stop using highways at night. Gautam Budh Nagar SSP Love Kumar said the force will identify crime-prone areas. “We will come up with a strategy to ensure safety of highways,” Mr. Kumar said.
“We have asked the toll operator to ensure safety of commuters. We will take steps to protect people,” the SSP added.
