VMC market a haven for blade batch

Vijayawada: The city police are collecting the details of blade batch gang, rowdies, suspects as part of their measures to crack down on the anti-social elements who are creating panic in the city.

The police also increased night patrolling at Ajit Singh Nagar, New RR Pet, Old RR Pet, Madhura Nagar, Krishna Lanka, Samba Murthy, Hanuman Pet, Gandhi Nagar, Low Bridge area and other vulnerable areas, where people are facing problems from rowdies and blade batch gangs, who are notorious for attacking people particularly when the latter are alone to rob cash and other valuables.

During the recent surprise visit made by Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu in various parts of the city, residents of Vambay Colony complained to the Chief Minister about the harassment of blade batch and rowdies in the colony. N Chandrababu Naidu responded immediately and ordered the police to crack down on the anti-social elements. He has made it clear that stern action will be taken to maintain peace.

Nearly, 20 areas in the city are notorious for offences and people in these are living in panicky conditions. Most of these areas are adjacent to the railway tracks. These forces leave the city immediately by train after committing the crimes. After some months, they come back and begin offences as part of the profession.

So far, several hundred people became victims of blade batch gangs, who consume ganja and attack the people in an inebriated condition. These gangs habituated to ganja consumption and attack the targeted people particularly when they are alone to rob the cash. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Kranti Rana Tata recently announced that the police are collecting Iris, finger prints afresh of these gangs to maintain the record of each rowdy and suspect in the city.

He said finger print technology is very useful to nab the offenders and detect the offenders. He said night patrolling was intensified at New RR Pet, RR Pet, Vambay Colony, Krishna Lanka and other areas of the city. The police are conducting counselling every Sunday to these rowdies and suspects to check offences in the city.

Despite increasing vigil and patrolling, blade batch gangs are moving freely in some parts of the city. VMC Gandhi Cloth Market, which is located near KBN College, became a haven for blade batch gang. Nearly, 30 blade batch members regularly consume ganja in the evenings or early morning a the cloth market. Local residents and traders of cloth market are unable to check the activities of these blade batch gang.

Local residents particularly women are alleging that the Kotha Peta police are not taking action against anti-social elements and instead of suggesting them to install CCTV cameras. Petty traders, who are eking their livelihood by doing small business, are panicked with free roaming of rowdies and blade batch gang who are mercilessly attack if they are questioned.

When contacted Kotha Pet station house officer NSVK Durga Rao said they have no information about the blade batch gang using the VMC Market and open space for consuming ganja near KBN College.

The Gandhi Cloth Market is located barely 500 metres away from Kotha Peta Police station. The local residents are asking the police to take action against ganja peddlers and notorious blade batch gang, who are creating panic among the residents close to cloth market and traders.