The residents say illegal activities like prostitution, pimping, drug peddling, and illegal parking of autorickshaws are rampant along the colony’s compound walls, a situation worsened by a lack of police presence. Nor are there any security guards at the colony’s gates.
To collect evidence, senior citizens residing in the 25 buildings at the colony keep vigil at the windows of their flats and with their mobile phone cameras capture images and videos of suspicious activities.
They complain that despite the murder, no one from the colony’s trust, which has its office in Fort, has turned up with a solution to the area’s security problems. Trust officials were unavailable for comment. “We are given a step-motherly treatment. The murder is a wakeup call for all. We have sent letters to the police, civic officials and the colony trust, but they are least bothered about our safety,” said Soli Paymaster, who lives in Building No 1.
“The March 8 murder was a result of a lack of policing. Our area is a breeding ground for the use and sale of narcotics. We are helpless,” said another resident, Zameer Palamkote.
DCP (zone IX) Satyanarayan Chaudhary said police patrolling has been increased in the area.
Senior inspector RC Dhavle of the Bandra police station said, “Regular raids on drug peddlers are carried out. Last month, a Tanzanian national and a gym instructor were arrested after they were found in possession of cocaine. Action is taken immediately based on tip-offs.”
The residents are not assured. They say the videos and images they have captured on their phones are proof of their continued concerns.
