Teen’s high-rise acts raise security concerns

Videos and photographs of a 17-year-old mechanical engineering student that had gone viral on social media on Wednesday has brought to fore the issue of unguarded high-rise buildings in the city that could possibly be used for criminal activity.

The youth had performed daredevil stunts on the top of four high-rises in South Mumbai buildings by breaching security. He was summoned by the police after the police were informed about it on Twitter.

On Wednesday, DNA had reported about Pranal Chavan, who claimed to be India’s only ‘Urban Free Climber’. Chavan had started performing stunts last month and had uploaded at least three videos of him performing stunts, on social media. Chavan claims to have performed stunts at Lodha The Park at Lower Parel, Lokhandwala Minerva at Mahalakshmi and Worli Omkar 1973.

“There is a need to crack the whip on persons who risk their lives by performing stunts. The teenager, if caught, can be booked under cognisable sections 447 (criminal trespass), which attracts imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months,” said former IPS officer-turned-lawyer YP Singh.

“It has raised serious questions on the security measures inside the under-construction buildings. Any untoward incident could have led to a major accident at the building. The builder or supervisor should not allow outsiders to enter the building,” said Singh.

APOLOGY

• The teen on Wednesday deleted videos uploaded by him fearing police action and a warning.
   
• “Next time I will take permission from the builder before performing any stunts,” he said.