Gangs fought and police looked on
THE IRRITATINGLY long blankness on the TV screen in City homes is a thoroughly avoidable outcome of a protracted gang war. The subscribers didn?t know, the administration didn?t care and the police turned a Nelson?s eye even as hooligans of the two Multi-System Operators (MSOs) continued to snap each other?s cable wires with near impunity for months.
THE IRRITATINGLY long blankness on the TV screen in City homes is a thoroughly avoidable outcome of a protracted gang war. The subscribers didn’t know, the administration didn’t care and the police turned a Nelson’s eye even as hooligans of the two Multi-System Operators (MSOs) continued to snap each other’s cable wires with near impunity for months.
A virtual gang war was continuing on the City’s street which culminated into complete and criminal denial of cable service to the helpless subscribers.
All through the street fights the police did not take action. Those who indulged in brawls and bullying tactics were let off without any case being registered against them. No wonder then that television screens in homes are blank now and the administration is unable to contain the Frankenstein it allowed to grow.
Though a couple of cases were registered initially, most of the incidents were hushed up. The district administration now says that it has no law to deal with the cable-wallahs for stopping transmission.
However, police officials privately admit that since action was not taken earlier due to ‘pressure from the various quarters’ the situation went out of hand.
“If action had been taken in the beginning when the goons were bashing up cable operators with allegiance to the rival MSOs who did not bow to their demands, the situation wouldn’t have come to such a horrendous pass”, admitted a police official on condition of anonymity.
“At the height of the cable conflict, almost everyday we used to get complaints of cables getting cut and rival parties clashing”, he added.
“Not only history-sheeters but certain caste groups known for their criminal activities were hired to cut cables”, the official further added.
SP Anant Kumar Singh could not be contacted despite repeated efforts.
It was coming…
Though the top officials of the police and administration appeared cold to the conflict for months, police personnel of lower rung were apprehensive that giving a long rope to anti-socials would ultimately hit the law and order situation. “Once the goons have an idea that they could get away with cocking a snook at the law, they are bound to get bolder in committing crimes”, said a Station Officer posted in the Walled City.
