Bengaluru no more safe, mugging cases on the rise in Pulikeshinagar

BENGALURU: Residents of Cooke Town in Pulikeshinagar are a worried lot as they are scared to step out of their houses after 4 pm. The residential locality has become a soft target for muggers with many cases reported in recent past. Although the police officials claim they have stepped up patrolling the area the residents said they still face unsafe.

In a recent incident on June 26, a 15-year-old girl had a narrow escape after she fought back two bike-borne muggers and resisted their attempt to snatch her bag, when she stepped out of her house in High Street. While the police claim they had stepped up patrolling in the area, residents allege that their neighbourhood has become a hub for anti-social elements.

According to the girl’s parents, she had stepped out of the house around 4 pm. During her tussle with the muggers she got scratches on her arm, but she did not let go of her bag and the muggers had no option but to speed away.

The girl’s mother told this newspaper, “My daughter kept crying for help but no one came forward. None of the watchmen standing around came forward to help her. Only when my husband heard her cries, he came to check and found her standing terrified at the main door.” The police were alerted and they visited the spot and carried out an investigation.

According to residents, the area had gained notoriety lately and there had been a spurt in mugging cases in the area. “Anti-social elements are generally found in the park nearby drinking liquor. We have brought this to the notice of the cops, but nothing much has been done in this regard.” The cops say that there have been cases reported and asked them to stay alert, said another resident.

It may be recalled that on June 5, a software professional was robbed of her mobile phone while she was walking home in the night near her house in same locality. When she approached the police, a non-cognizable report was registered. But, to her disappointment, two weeks later, she received a text message from the police saying that the case had been closed.

A police officer told Deccan Chronicle that the police have stepped up patrolling in the area and rounded up few anti-social elements. “We are registering cases and probing into it. Last week too, the police rounded up a few suspects and questioned them.”