India, Feb. 14 -- After a recent double murder that left the temple town shaken, the Gram Sabha of Shirdi has decided to appoint a private agency to conduct a detailed census of residents to identify 'outsiders' and take action against them. The diktat does not apply to devotees or those who are staying with legal documents. However, beggers and those who are unable to prove their identity are likely to face the scrutiny.

The decision is among a series of measures taken to enhance security in the town that has seen a steady rise in crime in recent years. According to police data, Shirdi recorded 224 criminal cases in 2021 which nearly tripled to 568 cases in 2023. In 2022, as many as 339 cases were registered and in 2024, at least 430 ca...