Jamshedpur: A rise in attacks by cleavers and other sharp weapons in and around Steel City has prompted East Singhbhum police to launch a drive to regulate their sale, curb their misuse and improve law and order.Seven incidents involving cleavers or other sharp weapons were reported in and around Jamshedpur over the past three weeks. On July 1, Asim Banerjee, 33, suffered injuries to his hands after unidentified assailants attacked him with a cleaver and snatched his wallet containing Rs 3,000 under Telco police station limits. On June 30, a jewellery store owner was attacked with a sharp weapon in Adityapur. On June 29, a truck driver was attacked in Burmamines.On June 27, Himanshu Singh and Pratyush Anand Singh were attacked outside a bar in Bistupur. Himanshu later succumbed to his injuries. On June 12, a truck driver and his helper were attacked and robbed in Golmuri. The same day, six youths attacked Aman Singh and Sarabjit Singh with sharp weapons in Sidhgora.Acting on the directions of SSP Ehtesham Waquarib, police teams inspected markets across the urban circle and identified shops selling cleavers. Shopkeepers were instructed to maintain identity and contact details of buyers and avoid selling choppers to suspicious persons.During a late-evening drive on Saturday, police seized more than 60 choppers from two shops at Sanjay Market, Sakchi, alleging that the weapons were being sold without proper authorisation.SP (city) Lalit Meena said that shopkeepers were directed not to sell sharp weapons without obtaining adequate information about buyers. Traders have also been asked to maintain records of their stock, sales and the agencies from which they procure choppers.Police stations will conduct random inspections and raids to verify compliance. Police are also monitoring people carrying choppers or other sharp weapons in public places. “Anyone found carrying such weapons under suspicious circumstances will be detained for questioning,” Meena said.
