When Shradha moved from her native village in Kalimpong, West Bengal, to the Capital in 2010, her parents advised her to take accommodation in an "upscale" locality, for it would be "safe". She chose Saket. Now seven years down the line, the 28-year-old, working with a prestigious company, still has all her senses on alert mode every time she steps out of her house.
When Shradha moved from her native village in Kalimpong, West Bengal, to the Capital in 2010, her parents advised her to take accommodation in an "upscale" locality, for it would be "safe". She chose Saket. Now seven years down the line, the 28-year-old, working with a prestigious company, still has all her senses on alert mode every time she steps out of her house.
"There are certain stretches in Saket that are avoided by many girls, especially those living independently, even during the daytime. Boys, mostly teenagers, pass lewd comments or brush by our sides while speeding on two-wheelers. If there is no deterrent to such incidents, they may lead to bigger crimes," she said.
Shradha often takes a detour while going towards the Saket Metro station, just to be on the "safe" side. And who can blame her, for these miscreants on bikes can be seen teasing girls even near the Police Control Rooms.
Priyanka, 26, is in the same boat. The corporate professional lives in Khirki Extension and has to go to the Malviya Nagar Metro station daily. She often leaves office late and has to be extra cautious while passing through the congested lanes of Khirki.
These two women are just the smallest tip of the iceberg. Off late, residents of these so-called posh colonies have started complaining how vulnerable and crime-prone these areas have become, especially for women and children.
Vasant Kunj residents claim that the last time they saw the entrance to the C Block well-lit was about more than two years ago. "There is no electricity connection. So many letters and applications written by the RWA have gone in vain. Women avoid going out after sunset, and children have stopped playing outside once it is dark," Harjinder Saroha, RWA President and Vice-Chairman of C Block, said.
He further blamed the mushrooming of the unauthorised colonies in the vicinity for the menace, claiming that the police and civic agencies had no control over them. "Two days ago, a woman went to a grocery store next to her house and someone snatched her valuables. Police patrolling is a rare scene and PCR vans can also be barely spotted," Saroha added.
Similarly, in Greater Kailash (GK) II, one of the poshest areas in the Capital, families avoid certain spots in the evening, specially on weekends. "Youths drink and take drugs in the open on some stretches along the M Block market. Families avoid these places now. Stores that are open all night have become a point to gather and create ruckus. Policing should be more stringent to ensure safety of residents," Chetan Sharma, Chairman of Federation of GKII Complex RWAs said.
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