Changing Nature of Crime in Urban Region: A Case Study on Haora City, West Bengal

Haora city (22037/N and 88020/E) is one of the oldest cities of West Bengal, India. The city has a commercial and administrative importance for a long time. Now it is the second most (after Kolkata) thickly populated city of West Bengal. The city is characterised by widespread human poverty despite increasing employment, child labour and wide socio-economic disparities, a large immigrant population. Due to a large migrant population, refugee and commuters the city has gone through an economic crisis, a crisis in housing, employment, transport, water etc. like any other city of Afro-Asia. Recently, a complex economic and social hierarchy is found which has changed the traditional nature of crime in the city. Now mobile phone snatching, ATM theft, kepmari, Eve teasing, credit card fraud, Nigeria fraud and human trafficking have got predominance than that of earlier crimes such as dacoity, pickpocket, theft etc. According to the report of Howrah City Police number of crime has been increased more than double in last five years. If we intend to find out the cause we have to face bitter experiences. Increasing flow of lower class people from the outer states and rural areas has created the situation more critical. So, the safety of the peace-loving permanent dwellers has become insecure. Mainly CBD, industrial belt and dock areas are the most crime-prone zone. For proper development as well as social stability, city crime must be controlled.