Ranchi, Nov. 3: Traders apparently find themselves unsafe in the business hub of the state capital.

They are being targeted regularly in the area for the past month, said a section of the businessmen.

While a few cases have been reported to local police stations, many petty offences go unreported due to businessmen’s attitude of keeping safe distance from police.

After a rough survey of the area, it was found that the Upper Bazaar, which once used to be the safest place in the city, is gradually getting converted into the haven of criminals carrying illegal firearms and disturbing the business activities of the area after sunset.

Last night, two unidentified persons shot at a transporter, Rishikesh Yadav, when he was sitting in his office at Baralal Street, about 500 metres from Kotwali police station. The persons had come on motorcycle and asked about some youths. When Yadav could not identify the youth, the criminals, threatening him with dire consequences, shot him at his stomach. He was admitted to RIMS in a critical condition. Police have registered an FIR in this connection today.

Yadav’s is not an isolated case. The day before yesterday, two unidentified persons tried to loot in the market near Narayan Bhandar, a famous shop of puja material, in the evening. They became unsuccessful in their operation only when a group of traders chased them. “The youths fled leaving their motorbikes and a country-made single-shot firearm,” said a trader on condition of anonymity.

Another trader, who did not want to be identified, said a couple of days ago, some persons entered a shop on JJ Road through a ventilator and stole about Rs 20,000 in cash. The matter was reported to the police. No clue, however, has been found in this connection so far. Another shopowner of the area said it had become difficult to cross safely on the stretch between the corner of Mawari Women’s College and the telephone exchange. He said open boundary walls of Zila School give safe passage to the criminals operating in the area. “A week ago, the window pane of a car was broken on the stretch in the evening. Criminals would have looted the businessman sitting in it had his driver not driven the vehicle to a safe place,” said a businessman.

President of Federation of Jharkhand Chambers of Commerce and Industries Arjun Jalan admitted the problem saying he regularly receives complaints of crime from the area with a request to take the issue seriously.

City deputy police superintendent Kumar Ravi Shanker said proper attention is being paid for traders’ security. “We hope the criminals will be in our custody soon,” he said.