BENGALURU: Indians living in the suburbs of Westmead and Parramatta always avoided the park connecting the two areas in the western part of Sydney, considering it to be unsafe.
Shashikala, who lived in Westmead for many years, recollects that people were often mugged in the park. “The park is huge and dense with trees,” she said.
“When I first moved into the area, my colleagues and neighbours warned me about the park. They advised me to always carry five to 10 dollars in my pocket and quietly hand it over to anybody who confronted me,” she said.
After sunset, the park is a favourite haunt of teenagers and pub hoppers. “There is an all-night pub very close to the park and many youngsters head to the park after buying alcohol or after the place shuts down. You can always hear people shouting, hurling abuses or singing loudly,” she said.
The suburb, which is close to many colleges and hospitals, is considered an affordable place to live.
“There is a huge Indian and Sri Lankan population in the area. Many Indian youngsters can be found playing cricket in the park during daytime,” Shashikala said.
However, evenings are a strict no-no for most of the residents. “During weekends, nobody would step into the park due to unsocial elements. We feared even walking close to it because you could get mugged,” she said.
When asked if there was any police patrolling, she said, “The police would come to the spot only if a call was made. Even though the area was known for attacks, nobody was posted there,” she said.