The streets are lonely, dark and deep...

Residents of Azadnagar in Chamarajpet are living in fear of ruffians — women fear coming out of their homes after sunset and staying indoors does not insulate the families from the problems hooligans cause in the area.

Many streets of Azadnagar and areas around the BBMP community hall are the worst affected. Hooligans assemble here in large numbers, especially after evening, and consume alcohol. Residents say after these youth get drunk, all hell breaks loose as their already-unbearable revelry turns chaotic; the ruffians get into fights with each other and hurl the choicest of expletives.

Sarojamma, a resident of Azadnagar 5th Cross, said the hooligans use such a vulgar language and create such a scene that women fear stepping out of their house in the dark, even if there is an emergency. She said the residents have informed Chamarajpet police about this and the police do come to attend to the complaint. However, she added that the miscreants flee as soon as they hear police siren, only to reappear the next day.

Despite police’s intervention, it gets back to square one, she said, adding that this has happened many times and now the residents feel helpless.

‘Can’t live here’
Another resident of the area, Sitaram, said it is disgusting to see about two dozen youth right next to his house every day, creating a ruckus. Recounting a recent incident, he said the miscreants, sitting on their motorcycles, were abusing each other loudly. He said once he had even poured grease in front of his house to deter the hooligans, but the plan did not work. “How are we supposed to live here!”

Somaraj, who stays near the BBMP community hall, which is under construction, said the hall turns into a bar after the sun sets.
He said the hooligans behave in the ugliest way possible, consume liquor, play cards and “do everything that is forbidden”. He said the BBMP should lock the premises so that no one can enter it.

Raman, who is in charge of the hall, said the construction work would be completed in three months but till then, he is doing his best to secure the area.

He said he locks all the doors but the revellers may still enter the premises through the gate, which cannot be locked.

The residents of Azadnagar say so far the ruffians—they converse in Kannada and Urdu—have been causing
them trouble only by their loud and lewd behaviour, but if their activities go unchecked, they may start creating more problems.
In what may be a case in point, the youth have already sneaked out costly magazines from the library in the area and even tore books.

Varalakshmi, an officer of the library, said it was with great difficulty that they managed to get back the magazines and books these youth had ‘borrowed’.