Tura, Sept 19: A break-in at a medical centre, a forcible entry into a school with theft of a substantial amount of cash meant for the institution in two back to back burglaries in the same area of Tura town have shaken citizens, as police link the rise in theft to suspected drug addicts.
On Monday night, a break-in was reported in the premises of Heal Venture Clinic, an Orthopedic centre, at New Tura. The thieves took away a water pump and footwear meant for patients. They also made a futile attempt to take away the ceiling fans, an air conditioning system and even a refrigerator, revealing the scale of operation.
A day later, on Wednesday, school authorities of Matchakolgre Lower Primary school, a short distance from Heal Venture Clinic, were shocked to find that thieves had cut through the steel walls of the almirah and taken away Rs 38,000/- kept inside.
Tura police inform that extra vigil has been put in place during the night hours and attribute the sudden rise in theft to be the handiwork of drug addicts out looking for hard currency to purchase the banned substance and satiate themselves.
A kindergarten school in town was also targeted this week with thieves taking away a back-up battery inverter and a music system.
Tura is witnessing a rise in drug addiction with many youth falling prey as the flow of the narcotic substance continues unabated despite multiple attempts to break the supply chain by authorities.
Several months ago, desperate addicts even invaded a cemetery in Tura, lifting steel and iron crosses to sell in the scrap market for a quick buck to procure banned substances.
