Hooligans hurl pouches filled with beer, urine, drain water in Nalasopara

Hooliganism during Holi kept its date with the festival this year too, with youth hurling plastic pouches filled with beer, urine and drain water at Nalasopara residents, particularly women.

Residents on Monday complained that youth from a slum in the area threw pouches filled with all those things at women and at apartments on Sunday night. They also alleged that despite approaching the police regarding this, they received no help.

Twenty-two-year-old Harshada Sonawne (name changed) was among those targeted. Sonawne said she was on her way home when, at Santosh Bhuvan, beer balloons were hurled at her.

"I had noticed them (the youth) from far but didn't want them to think I was afraid. Soon, they hurled around six balloons, one of which hit me on the chest. I stopped my bike and gave them an angry look but decided not to confront them as that would have landed me in even bigger trouble," she said.

"I reached Nalasopara police station and informed the constables there about the incident. They, however, started telling me that I shouldn't be out during such festivals and then told me to lodge a complaint with the Valiv police as that area falls in their jurisdiction."

Locals in Oswal Nagari and Gala Nagar too faced the same trouble after hooligans threw plastic balloons filled with urine and nullah water at bike-borne revellers. After the police were informed about the incident, a team of constables reached the area but the hooligans, all under the influence of alcohol, managed to flee.

Gala Nagar resident Ravindra Dhuri said, "The teenagers were drunk. They live in the slum area behind our building. They filled water from the drain in balloons and hurled them at women and two-wheeler riders. They also urinated in plastic pouches and threw those at the windows of apartments. We informed the police who then sent officers on bikes but they failed to nab even one of the hooligans."

Senior inspector, Nalasopara police station, Sanjay Nikam said, "Our officers had patrolled that area. I will inquire about the incident with the beat in-charge."