Army veteran’s death raises law & order questions, citizens question systemic failure
PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE /Dehradun
A retired brigadier being shot fatally while on a morning walk on Monday in what was once considered a sedate suburb of Dehradun has once again elicited focus on the deteriorated law and order situation in the provisional State capital. With at least half a dozen murders being committed in Dehradun during the first three months of this year, the local residents and politicians too have expressed serious concerns.
The latest incident has also exposed the irresponsible and violent party culture being encouraged in the city and in the name of boosting tourism and promoting it as an “education hub”. The two sides involved in the incident were reportedly involved in a dispute over a bill in a club which later escalated into the violence which turned fatal for an armed forces veteran. Students of a private university being involved in the incident a few days after a fight between two groups associated with another private university resulted in the death of a youth have also raised questions about the actual scenario in such institutions. Meanwhile, the authorities have taken action against the club where the persons involved were partying. However, locals point out that violence and other crimes are common in many of the clubs and watering holes in the city and elsewhere.
Residents of the Johri area, where the incident took place, complained that the area has become a hotspot for people especially from Haryana and Delhi, who drive rashly and indulge in other violations of the law which threaten the safety of locals and mar the atmosphere in the area. They also told the Dehradun senior superintendent of police Pramendra Dobal that they have not yet seen the Jakhan police post in-charge visiting the area. They further said that while the police claim to be conducting a verification campaign across the State, the same has not been witnessed in this area for many years now. The local residents also pointed out that since the area is also wooded, it has become a favoured spot for those abusing alcohol and other substances which creates nuisance and safety concerns for the locals.
Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha national vice president Neha Joshi also took to social media to point out what many residents of Dehradun have been complaining about- locals being harassed in the name of police checks with unruly visitors being let off. She said that people of Uttarakhand are extra cautious about following the rules when on the roads in Delhi, Chandigarh or other States as the police especially check vehicles from other States. However, some of those in vehicles from Delhi and Haryana have been creating problems here with the police apparently being complacent. She stressed that the State needs tourism but not at the cost of the lives of its people.
