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Pubs blame rural pockets
Owners of pubs, discotheques and bars on MG Road say that youth from surrounding villages flock to malls whenever the electricity supply fails and create nuisance on frequently, including eve teasing.
Owners of pubs, discotheques and bars on MG Road say that youth from surrounding villages flock to malls whenever the electricity supply fails and create nuisance on frequently, including eve teasing.
MG Road’s mall-mile has eight malls with more than 60 pubs and bars. There have been many incidents where youth from these villages — such as Nathupur, Chakarpur and Sikanderpur — clashed with security guards and bouncers.
Ashok Kumar, the owner of Ignite Club in Sahara Mall, said cases of youth resorting to force for entry into night clubs was on the rise.
“Whenever the electricity supply fails in their villages, they fan out and get into malls near their houses and create nuisance. They are generally shabbily dressed. We do not allow stag entry but they would barge inside and pick up fights with bouncers. There have been a number of cases of eve teasing in the malls too,” he added.
However, since most youngsters come from families with deep political clout, such incidents are not generally registered and the matter is solved without being reported.
Gurdeep Singh, the owner of Addiction at Metropolitan Mall on MG road, said no attempts are made to curb such violent youth as even security guards do not want to risk their lives.
“Visitors can easily enter malls with revolvers and other deadly weapons. There is none to stop them. Mall security has miserably failed on this front,” said Singh.
Police officials, on the other hand, said both the unruly youth and huge number of bars are creating nuisance. “There are huge number of bars and discotheques in these malls on MG Road. The excise and taxation department should ensure there are a limited number of bars inside a mall. We face a tough time maintaining law and order,” said a senior police official.
