‘Lack of security in east Delhi housing societies’

Group housing societies have failed to learn lessons in security even 12 years after journalist Shivani Bhatnagar was killed inside her flat in a cooperative society in east Delhi.

Group housing societies have failed to learn lessons in security even 12 years after journalist Shivani Bhatnagar was killed inside her flat in a cooperative society in east Delhi.

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This negligence was reflected in an order passed recently by the Delhi high court. The court had directed the Delhi Police to strengthen security in the multi-storey apartments in east Delhi’s IP Extension.

Shivani Bhatnagar, a journalist with The Indian Express was murdered on January 23, 1999, at her Nav Kunj Apartment in east Delhi while she was with her infant son.

Hired killer Pradeep Sharma whose life sentence was upheld by the Delhi high court on Wednesday had strangled her with a wire and stabbed 10 times with a knife. Entry made by him in his handwriting at the register placed at the society gate and recovery of fingerprints from crime spot nailed him.

Direction to improve security come on a PIL filed by lawyer Sugriva Dubey whose house in Mangla Apartment had been looted while he was visiting his native place in Jharkhand four months back. Dubey returned to find the house lock broken and goods, cash and jewellery missing.

Citing police data, he said a number of thefts were happening in the area. “Any miscreant can enter under a false name …security agencies not registered and hence is unreliable… furnishing of identity cards must be made mandatory for all visitors,” Dubey said.