Two-wheelers without number plates is a common sight in Mewat

Though the Mewat police claims that a total of 850 police personnel are deployed across the district, the HT team noticed just a few of them during its visit to Luhingakalan village.

Though the Mewat police claims that a total of 850 police personnel are deployed across the district, the HT team noticed just a few of them during its visit to Luhingakalan village.

Stolen bikes are driven without number plates in Mewat, say locals. (Abhinav Saha/HT photo)

While travelling from Gurgaon to Luhingakalan village via Sohna, Nuh, Punhana and Pinganwa, the team found very few police pickets.

Only five to six policemen were seen on the stretch of 70km. One could also spot several bikes with no number plates.

The villages are notorious as bases of several criminal gangs operating in the national capital region. Several cattle smuggling, vehicle theft and other criminal gangs operate from Mewat.

Locals said “not-so-strong” police presence ensures that two-wheelers stolen from neighbouring districts are used in villages here. These vehicles are driven either without a registration number or with fake number plates, said locals.

Locals claimed that a number of users of stolen vehicles have obtained fake documents and policemen do not check them.

Salim Khan, a mechanic at Luhingakalan village, said, “There is no need to register vehicles in Mewat. We do not spend money on registration nor is any document required. We only carry papers if we go to Delhi, Rajasthan or Gurgaon.”

“We can buy a motorbike for Rs 9,000 if it is in a good condition. Else, motorbikes are available for as cheap as `3,000. We use it only for a year and then sell it off. Spare parts are also not a problem for us. We just have to inform a mechanic and he gets them within two days,” said Zafru, a local.

The police, however, claim that Mewat is one of the most peaceful districts in the state.

Mewat superintendent of police Deepak Ahalawat said, “We impound vehicles without number plates. We carry out regular combing operations in these villages. Policemen are deployed across Mewat throughout the year and regular checkings are carried out.”