Crime, fear rise in the dark

PANCHKULA: Snatching incidents are on the rise in the city. There has been a considerable increase in incidence of chain and purse-snatching cases in Panchkula over the past three years. This year, till May 31, police received 22 complaints in connection with such cases. In the corresponding period last year, they had got 17 such complaints.
Residents are demanding repair of streetlights that have been non-functional for the last two-three years.The civic authorities are claiming they would repair all streetlights in the city before July 15.
According to Panchkula residents, inadequate streetlighting has contributed to such incidents. There are several areas where residents have been groping in the dark for years. Sectors 10, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 23 and 26 are among the worst affected, with streetlights there being perennially non-functional. Women are wary of treading these roads in the evening owing to the threat of snatching.
SK Nayyar, president of Citizens Welfare Association (CWA), said, 'For more than a year, we have been demanding repair of streetlights. The authorities have turned a blind eye to the problem. But for Shakti Bhawan Marg, the rest of the city is under a pall of darkness. This goes to show the authorities' apathy. The incidence of snatching cases is increasing with every passing day. Dark streets are turning out to be an advantage for criminals.'
'Many find it tough to walk on city roads after sunset due to snatching threats,' said Sector-9 resident Prabha Singh.
Ravinder Rawal, president of municipal council Panchkula, said they were surveying different areas and the city will be fully lit up before July 15. 'We are concerned about the problem. Earlier, there were some problems with the MC. We are now trying to manage things,' he added.