22 March 2008
KUWAIT CITY: Residents of Salmiya expressed relief as securitymen intensified patrolling in the area after a spate of burglaries, bag snatching incidents, among other criminal activities. Residents said police on Friday were seen questioning people who were aimlessly roaming in the area. Earlier, residents had expressed fears that criminals from Jleeb Al-Shouyoukh may have moved their turf to Salmiya in light of the ongoing crackdown there. Sources said most of people targeted by criminals were Indians.

Murder
A recent murder of a shopkeeper in broad daylight inside his store sent shockwaves through the Indian community, a source told the Arab Times. According to the source, the Indian identified only as Mohammad, 52, was reportedly stabbed by an Egyptian man, who fled the country immediately after committing the ghastly crime. The deceased hails from Kannur in Kerala and the store is located next to the Indian Community School (Senior). The circumstances leading to the murder were not immediately clear. The source added that the shopkeeper was reportedly stabbed in the abdomen and was desperately calling for help from Indian passers-by but no one came to his rescue.

He said timely arrival of paramedics could have helped to save the life of the Indian, even as he lay in pool of blood for over one hour and breathed his last before the arrival of the ambulance. The source added that Interpol has issued an arrest warrant for the Egyptian.  In yet another incident, three unidentified Arab men posing as CID personnel decamped with KD 4,000 from an Egyptian haaris (caretaker) after tying him to a chair, says a source. The source went on to add that the Egyptian had collected the money from the building tenants and was to give it to the landlord the following day. A friend of the haaris broke open the door after he failed to respond to his calls. A case has been registered at the Salmiya police station and securitymen are investigating the matter.

Burglary
Meanwhile, an apartment of an Indian family was burglarized a few days ago by unknown people, who broke into the house using a tall ladder and made away with gold and cash. The family was reported to be holidaying when the theft took place. Recently, two cases of bag snatching were reported in Salmiya. In the first incident, two car-borne unidentified Arab men snatched away the bag of an Indian lady while she was walking along a road in Salmiya, close to Bestow Supermarket. A case has been registered at the Salmiya police station and police are investigating the case. In a similar incident, which happened last month in Shara Amman, an Arab man, driving a car, tried to snatch the bag of an Indian lady, but the victim exhibiting quick reflexes managed to ward off the attempt, a source told the Arab Times. The victim's cries for help drew a large crowd, even as the accused beat a hasty retreat.

By Francis A. Clifford Cardozo

© Arab Times 2008