Kothrud residents complain against drunkards on their streets

Pune: Kothrud area, which is dominated by the upper middle class is facing problems of drunken men. The residents claim that drunkards have been creating ruckus in the area at night. Women say that they can not go for morning walks as the drunks are lying on footpaths and creating nuisance. Recently a group of residents from Kothrud submitted a letter to Kothrud police station asking them to take action against these people and the liquor shops which are open late at night.
The residents, especially the women of Shivtirthanagar, Modern Colony, Rambaug colony, Ideal colony and Ajanta Avenue along with local corporator Vaishali Rajendra Marathe on Friday approached Kothrud police to riase an alarm this menace.
Sangita Dahibathe (37),a resident of Shivtirthanagar said, “The liquor shops shut down at wee hours. At night, these drunkards start abusing or sleep on the roads. The children cannot play as there could be anegative impact on them. Even in the evening, when we walk down to purchase vegetables, they stare or pass dirty comments when they us. When some ladies raise a voice, the mob supports him claiming that he is drunk and its a waste of time to argue with him.”
Shobha Shelar, a resident of Modern Colony said, “Such drunkards sleep on the pavement meant for walking. During our morning walks they speak under the influence of liquor and start throwing stones. From last three months, the nuisance has increased and we finally approached the police.”
Corporator Vaishali Marathe said, “There is no standard timing for such shops to shut down. ” Suryakant Kamble, inspector in-charge of Kothrud police station said, “Soon after the complaints were received on Friday, we approached five such liquor shops in the area and have warned them to maintain the timing given to them while issuing a licence by State excise department. We have informed them that they will be responsible for the ruckus created by such people.”