TAKEO: Residents of Takeo province have been recently plagued by insecurity following a number of cases involving gang stabbings, robbery and drug use in the past few weeks. In response, Takeo Provincial Governor, Ouch Phea, has convened a meeting instructing relevant authorities to strengthen their work and ensure villages are safe.

During the meeting, the Governor of Takeo Province urged authorities at all levels and of the 10 municipalities and districts to continue giving attention to solving the problems that occur within their jurisdiction to ensure the good wellbeing of the local people.

As insecurity is on the rise in Takeo province, the governor has instructed provincial commissioners to work with the provincial, district and municipal military police to further crackdown on gangs, theft, robbery and drugs.

At the same time, he introduced a new strategic plan to monitor and identify suspects and new local entrants to the province. In particular, the governor instructed the municipal authorities to cooperate and increase the inspection and search of weapons, explosives, knives and swords on the streets in their respective areas of jurisdiction.

Two big crimes over the past few weeks have scared residents in Takeo province. In one case, five suspects on a motorcycle chased and threw stones at a man, hitting him in the chest and causing his death on 21 January 2023. Then, at the beginning of February, four schoolboys killed a fellow 17-year-old student along National Road 2 in Traing district.