Horsing around in Bangalore's Guttahalli tonga stand

The tonga stand in Guttahalli is used for more than just as a shelter for horses. It’s become a meeting place for anti-social elements who gather to drink, gamble and harass women. Although this place was allotted to the BBMP, the local corporation has let the tonga drivers use it.

Mohammed Zameer, who owns a house behind the stand, said that it is very unsafe for women because of the kind of men who gather there.

“Besides the tonga owners, a huge crowd gathers in this shelter every evening. They get drunk and tease every woman who passes by. My wife cannot walk alone once it gets dark. Once, a gang even attacked a BMTC bus conductor,” he said. However, tonga owner, Yousuf Khan, said that he was unaware of any such activity. “This place is home to about 20 horses. This is our livelihood. If some people come and smoke here, people make a big deal out of it. It is not our fault,” he said.

Residents said this was not true. “They claim to have 20 horses, but that’s a lie. They may not have more than seven to eight horses. They even use the drinking water supply to clean their horses, and we don’t say a word,” said Zameer.

Veena Prakash, a medical store owner, said: “The men urinate right in front of my shop near the tree. The whole place stinks. If we complain, they use vulgar language. We’ve to be here till 11pm and it is scary because they use drugs and make a mess of this place. These troubles have increased in the last two years,” she said.

Broken bottles and garbage could be seen lying next to the stand, which has to be cleared by the residents. K Mohan, an advocate, who has his office there said the men are loud and noisy. “We received complaints from the residents.  We’re looking into the matter,” said Rajmahal Guttahalli ward corporator M Vijayakumari Kumar.