Not enough cops, criminals rule the roost

The lathi-wielding policeman has lost the battle against crime in Gurgaon. With less than 3,500 police officers to keep an eye on a population of 20 lakh, law and order is an important cause for concern.

The lathi-wielding policeman has lost the battle against crime in Gurgaon. With less than 3,500 police officers to keep an eye on a population of 20 lakh, law and order is an important cause for concern.

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The city police seem helpless amid increasing number of robberies, chain snatchings, brawls, road rage cases and murders.

Though criminals have sophisticated weapons and have increasingly become tech-savvy, the police here wield lathis and have little or no clue about cyber crime. In August this year, six boys attacked a policeman near SRS mall when he was inquiring about an accident in which they were involved.

Earlier, on April 14, two policemen and their associates were assaulted by a group of unidentified men outside a liquor vend in DLF City when they objected to drinking at a public place.

Assistant sub-inspector Rajesh Kumar (30), head constable Vinod Kumar and their friend Yogesh Kumar (28) were brutally beaten up at the vend located just off the Gurgaon-Faridabad Road There has also been a significant rise in drunken driving cases in the city. In 2010, the police had issued 7,462 challans, while, in 2011 (till September 30), the figure has almost reached 10,500.

The city police force, which is facing severe staff shortage, has failed to curb the menace, though it has launched occasional drives.

However, the police department feels that they have the situation under control.

"For the past two months, no major crime incident has been reported here. We are doing our best to secure the city from unlawful activities," said Maheshwar Dayal, DCP (east), Gurgaon.