The Tribune, February 24, 2005

DLF rocked by shooting, robbery
Ravi S.Singh
Tribune News Service

Gurgaon, February 23
Residents of the city are dismayed by the rise in crime as the area again witnessed two incidents of firing and dacoity in DLF Phase-III last night and in the wee hours of this morning. This is the fifth incident of dacoity and aborted attempts to dacoity in DLF Phase-III in the past fortnight. The developments have again exposed the chinks in the police campaign for security.

Sanjay, brother of a notorious gangster, was shot at by three youths in Shakti Park from close quarters last night. The injured was taken to a local hospital and later shifted to Delhi. His condition is said to be out of danger. The three youths were allegedly on a motorcycle. No FIR was registered till the time of filing this dispatch. The reason was stated to be the unstable condition of the injured who was not in a position to make any statement. He was injured on his chest.

In another development, four stengun-wielding youths committed dacoity in V Block of Phase-III of DLF at the residence of Mr T.K.Vasu. The four got into the house by breaking open the kitchen grill at about 2 am. Mr Vasu said they packed him, his wife and daughter in a room after breaking into the house. While a couple of them stood guard, pointing guns on the head of his daughter, others ransacked the household. According to him, the criminals took away jewellery and cash worth Rs 60,000. When his wife inquired of them whether they were of the same group that had committed dacoity a couple of days back in T Block of Phase-III, they just nodded.

A rise in crime in the city suggests that the anti-social elements have become active after the Assembly election, especially during the intervening period of the polling and announcement of the election results. According to many, the developments on the crime front in the city also suggest that the criminals have no fear of the uniform. A large section of the city has demanded a thorough investigation into the sudden burst of crime. The residents of DLF appear to be at their wits’ end at the recurrence of dacoity in the area. While the DLF management says that the police should fulfill their role, the police say that they are taking all measures to meet the challenge. The residents allege that both the DLF management and the police are to be blamed for the rise in crime.