BHUBANESWAR: Slums located in the vicinity of Mali Sahi here have become a menace for the city police. The area, having turned into a den for anti-socials, is creating law and order problems on a regular basis.
Youths and anti-socials congregating from evening to late night in inebriated condition is a common sight in the locality. Illegal sale of drugs, liquor and other contrabands is rampant, but the authorities seem to be helpless at the hands of the migrant population thriving in the area.
In a recent incident, a 26-year-old youth sustained life-threatening injuries after he was brutally attacked by seven persons in broad daylight near the Masjid Colony near Mali Sahi. While the accused are at large, the victim is battling for life at a private hospital.
Even police are not spared from wrath of the criminals in the locality. In December last year, police constable Abhimanyu Kuanr sustained deep cuts on his limbs after he was attacked by goons late in the night while patrolling in the area.
There have been eight cases of violent brawls among different groups of people in the last six months. More than a dozen persons have been injured, many of them critically, and several vehicles damaged in the incidents. Unofficial figures of such clashes would be much higher, sources said.
Crimes like group clashes, hooliganism, eve-teasing and theft have become a common feature in the vicinity. Steps adopted by the Commissionerate Police seem to have fallen short to control crime in Mali Sahi and its adjoining slums. Lack of patrolling in the area due to congestion and encroachment on the roads is a major reason behind the present situation.
Besides, there is lack of regulation and enlisting of tenants who migrate from neighbouring States especially West Bengal to settle here. Local criminals after committing crime at other places use these slums as their hide-outs. “Getting a shelter at a cheap rate for hiding is an easy affair here,” said an official of Kharavel Nagar Police Station.
There is no proper street lighting in the area as most of the lights are either broken or have been stolen. Roads are narrow and in dilapidated condition with cycle rickshaws and garbage stocked on either sides. Since it is a tough task for PCR van to patrol, the police have to manage with two-wheeler patrolling.
“Though a list of anti-socials is available with the police, migration from eastern districts of West Bengal is on a rise for which it was difficult to rely on the list available with us,” the police official added.
Corporator of Ward 41 of BMC Mamata Sahoo said despite several awareness campaigns in the area, residents let their houses on rent to outsiders without verifying their antecedents.
