Crime lures youth with easy money

PUNE: A worrying trend has emerged in the crime scenario in Pune. Over the last few years, more and more educated youth are seen to be involved in crimes taking place in the city.
While boys are taking to theft and robbery - mainly to sustain their addiction to drugs, dance bars or just easy money - girls have been detected involved in the flesh trade.
Over the past year or so, the police have detected crimes ranging from house thefts and robberies in various parts of the city where educated boys were involved. Among girls taking up sex for financial gain, a study of the crime branch shows that most of those caught were from outside Pune district or from other states.
Some of the most heinous crimes in which educated youths have been involved in the past few years are the murder of former national tennis player Kartikraj in 2001; a Manchar-based youth kidnapping the son of a businessman this year; and the Nigdi police recently busting a gang of four educated youths who had taken to vehicle thefts.
In 2003,The Times of India exposed a nation-wide CAT (common admission test) question paper scam in which educated youth were involved for quick money. A few weeks back, the crime branch arrested five youths from Navi Mumbai in Bhosari who had taken to robbery for drugs and easy life.
Police inspector Appa Gawade of the social security cell told TNN that last year the cell and the Faraskhana police had detected as many as 27 cases in which educated girls were found involved in the flesh trade. He said in most cases, the girls involved hailed from West Bengal.
"In many cases, the girls resorted to commercial sex to achieve a certain ''status'' in society and to maintain a high lifestyle," Gawade said, adding that the lure of money and enjoyment was hard to turn down for many a girl.
"Addiction to drugs and dance bars (wine and women) is the most common thing," said inspector Rajendra Joshi. "Another fad among the youth, which leads some to commit theft, is frequent changing of motorbikes."