Heart-rending incidents like murder on the middle of the road are abrogating the reputation of Chandigarh, which is an enviable abode for residency in this part of the country. Every other day, we come across various incidents of violence in different parts of the city. The city is witnessing a perpendicular growth in crime rate.
Closing of Aroma, the first-ever 24-hour eating joint of the city, was need of the hour. There is a need to have tight security arrangements outside pubs and discotheques, so that youngsters do not mess the evening and maybe their future by engaging in futile brawls. Other food joints, especially around the PGI, are crowded and strict security by the police is required.
Aroma is not the single joint, which has witnessed violence in the past. For example, in October last year, a similar incident was witnessed in Sector 26. The entire row is full of late night party joints and there have been several incidents of violence, which require interference by the administration.
Stern punishment is the only deterrent to keep away hooligans. Youngsters, in particular, need to be careful. The activities of youngsters will need a hard look of the police for straightening out the torrid affairs at the moment.
Dolphin Bakshi, MCM DAV College
Unemployment, reason for rise in crime
The city is witnessing crime due to one reason or the other every other day. Socio-economic issues are giving rise to crime rate in the city. One of the reasons is alarming unemployment and under employment, which forces youngsters to indulge in petty crimes.
The concept of night food street, which has been evolved with the specific aim to provide food during night has altogether been defeated due to brawls.
Recent reports in the media highlighted a serious nuisance because of brawls in the areas near night food street, hotels and restaurants, which are functioning late at night.
Undoubtedly, there have been several instances where the police has played a crucial role in preventing crimes. Thus, it would be unfair to paint the entire police force with the same brush, but the image of the police is low and its actions are always doubted. Instead of having professional law enforcement, the poor police performance is inevitable because the system of governance is dysfunctional. The police failure has led to terrible breakdowns. Political pressures, corruption in the system, etc, are only one aspect of the situation.
Another is that better intelligence, administrative action and aggressive intervention by the trained police forces rarely used to pre-empt. More than technology, what is needed is a policing philosophy based on the need to protect the rights of citizens.
There is a further need for evolving an effective mechanism for coordinated regional planning for Chandigarh falling in the adjoining states of Punjab and Haryana. Senior citizens, who are physically fit and mentally alert, can play a vital role in developing society, if they are involved in matters relating to curbing open crimes such as open trade of intoxicants, gambling in parks and traffic policing.
SK Khosla, Sector 40-C, Chandigarh
Police should increase nakas at night
Harminder Singh, who visited Aroma Hotel to enjoy an ice cream, entered into a minor altercation with a group of about 10 youths, which later murdered him on the rear side of the petrol pump opposite Aroma Hotel. The hotel is known as an epicentre of the night life of the youth. As per the news, a police gypsy was also parked near the incident site.
The Chandigarh police has arrested seven youths, accused of killing Harminder. Crime cases are increasing in the city but nobody is afraid of the police.
The police had made a policy for PCR nakas at night but in spite of hard steps, high officials are disappointed. Officials know the fact that policemen on night duties at specific points are more often missing. This issue needs attention as the top-most priority, particularly at points like Aroma.
ML Garg
Intensify police patrolling
In the wake of increasing brawls, fights and murders in the night, it’s high time that the local police pulls up their socks and does what is required rather than coming up with strange recommendations like closure of eateries early during night. There is no logic in curtailing the timing of late night eateries, which are mostly frequented by students and youngsters who come to Chandigarh for studies and jobs. It will also affect night tourism, as Chandigarh sees visitors from the surrounding areas to enjoy the city’s nightlife.
People have the right to eat whenever they feel like and it is the duty of the police to make appropriate security arrangements to ensure their safety.
Intensifying the police patrolling near eateries, discotheques and hotels can be of great help. The police should increase the manpower to protect citizens and maintain the law and order situation in the tricity. Also, self-discipline is important for all and it is need of the hour in Chandigarh, too.
Vineet Kapoor, Panchkula
Police under scanner
The recent gruesome murder of a 28-year-old youngster, Harminder, in the city was shocking.
Once again, the Chandigarh police is under the scanner. The police control room (PCR) gypsies are supposed to be stationed at strategic points, including Aroma Hotel.
The incident showcases that policemen at night duties tend to skip their beats. The tall claims of late night nakas by the Chandigarh police are exposed. The sole “night official on duty” was also unavailable at times at several police stations. This is the position when the incidents of dacoity, murders and theft have increased in the city.
None of the SHOs is conducting the community liaison group meetings. Thus, the lackadaisical attitude on the part of the Chandigarh police will embolden the culprits. Area chowkidaars are known to be the best information providers, which can be of immense help to the police. Drinking openly in parks or at night food streets has become a common affair.
The newly elected municipal corporation’s representatives must take these issues with the Inspector General of Police (IGP). The councillors need to pool in greater attention by taking resident welfare associations and youths into the loop to aid better policing.
Er Sachin Sharma
Carelessness of police comes to fore
We, the residents of the City Beautiful, have now become habitual of reading crime stories like murders, rapes, kidnappings, frauds, cheatings, etc, daily in newspapers. There was a time when such criminal activities were seldom heard in Chandigarh.
But of late, with the increase in population and changing lifestyle, Chandigarh is fast becoming a hub for criminals. Human life has become cheap and the youth has gone astray. Lavish lifestyle of the youth has made them a lawless lot. The youth do not hesitate to indulge in crimes even as ghastly as murders.
There have been night brawls in the recent past in the city. The brutal killing of 28-year-old Harminder Singh took place right under the nose of the law outside Aroma Hotel. It is the failure of the police and the blame for this tragedy lies with them. It is certainly the carelessness of the police that led to such horrific killing of a youth for nothing.
It has become unsafe for people to visit night food streets and joints with their family members. No one knows who becomes the next target of such brutality.
The UT police must become more active and perform their duties honestly, taking no chances for any lapses. It is the callous attitude of the UT police that such murders take place every other day. It is unfortunate that no action is taken against the carelessness of the police force in Chandigarh. It is high time that the Chandigarh police wakes up from its slumber and perform its duty honestly and effectively if crime rate in the city is to be checked and curbed. The UT police needs a thorough overhauling to make it performance oriented.
RK Kapoor
Is Chandigarh safe enogh?
Chandigarh has come a long way from the past era when people had to be home before late night.
Nowadays, the scenario of nightlife in Chandigarh is characterised by people staying awake past midnight and thronging nightclubs. But is Chandigarh safe enough to handle the night culture? Chandigarh used to be a safe city but due to the migration of a huge number of people from outside, things have changed. The police should be more vigilant and the security should be beefed up. Night patrolling needs to be increased, especially at sensitive areas and places like hotels, restaurants and discotheques, which are frequented by a huge number of people at night. The PCR vehicles should remain alert all through the night and should act swiftly in case of any such occurrence. Special nakas and check posts must be installed during late nights to catch rowdy youths carrying weapons and also tipsy youths driving rashly.
Dr Shruti K Chawla, Sector 38, Chandigarh
No comments:
Post a Comment