Involvement of street children in different criminal activities especially in stealing has increased in an alarming rate.
According to sources, most street children aged between seven and 16 years are doing different types of crimes.
The police on Saturday night busted an organised gang comprising of street children who are engaged in stealing of valuables from houses in the port city. The police unearthed the lifting syndicate after arresting two children from a slum located in Shantinagar area, Bakalia police station in Chittagong city.
The children are Nayan, 10, and Jamal, 16.
Jamal and Noyon along with other four members of the gang stole valuables, including cash money and ornaments, from the house of a policeman in Rasulbagh residential area, Bakalia police station on October 21, said Officer-in-Charge of Bakalia police station Md Mohsin.
A case was lodged with Bakalia police station in connection.
According to their statement, police arrested a woman to whom the boys sell stolen valuables. The arrested woman was identified as Nasima Begum, 30.
“The boys roam around streets posing as searcher of junk items. Getting opportunity the enter houses and steal valuables from there,” said the OC quoting the boys.
The OC also said they had information that about six gangs of street children were engaged in stealing in the city.
He said they were caring out drives to stop activities of the boys.
“People caught the duo a few months back while they were stealing valuables from a house in Jamalkhan area.”
Apart from this, many of the street children are getting addicted to various forms of drugs.