Gangsters, snatchers having a free run, say panicky residents of Mohali

Mohali, August 8

The alleged gang war and firing spree that was witnessed near a residential area in Mataur yesterday has left the city residents scared. With two gangs posting Facebook messages, one claiming the responsibility for the murder and the other vowing to avenge it, there are apprehensions about escalation in the situation.

Politicians, office-bearers of RWAs, senior citizens and women slammed the police for failing to provide a safe environment to the general public. They complained that the law and order situation in Mohali was going from bad to worse.

There is no fear of law among anti-social elements. Gangsters, snatchers and robbers are having a free run, they said.

Former Deputy Mayor Manjit Singh Sethi said, “The law and order situation is bad. Imagine gangsters on a firing spree in a marketplace and the PCR nearby had to be informed by the public. This is the state of affairs in Mohali today.” “The state government and police officers are responsible for it. In this way, the dark days of militancy will be back soon. Snatchings have become so common. When the Mohali SSP joined here, he had said that no senior citizen would required to visit the police station. But now, senior citizens fear coming out of their home,” said Sethi.

On Saturday morning, eyewitnesses of the Vickey Middukhera murder, had said the laxity of the police was there to see for everyone. The police took half an hour to arrive at the spot and shopkeepers in the market said there was panic in the area after the incident.

Satvir Dhanoa, former councillor and president of the Citizen Welfare and Development Forum, said, “We are going through a bad phase. The police are there for politicians only.”

“Jee hazoori, favourable transfers, plum postings is what they do in Mohali district most of the time. Such a shocking incident took place in broad daylight but I did not see a single naka on the city roads. It was as if nothing had happened. Just a routine affair. The police consider its job done by recording the statements and doing paperwork,” Dhanoa added.

Former principal Sawaran Choudhary, who was the first traffic marshal in Mohali, said, “People have lost confidence in the police. There is no fear of law among the criminals.”

“Every day there are reports of snatching, armed robberies in the city. Mohali has become notorious for snatching. Senior citizens, especially women, feel insecure in houses for the fear of snatchers. Things have gone out of control,” said Choudhary. Residents said there were certain pockets where crime was “virtually unchecked”. The airport road, Kharar-Landran road, Balongi and Mataur are the hotspots, they claimed.

Surjeet Kaur, a private school teacher in Sector 117, said, “After sunset, the Kharar-Landran road becomes a hub of criminal activities. There is no police patrolling on this stretch. It is unsafe for women and elderly. There is a constant fear of snatchers.”— TNS