With biker gangs out, women fear for safety

GURGAON: Chain snatching is becoming increasingly common in several city areas. The criminals know how to do it and get away with it and the cops know how to pass the buck, leaving the affected residents as hapless losers. In Sushant Lok Phase I, for instance, the residents are victims of the antics of a biker gang. Two men on bikes have been targeting women, all within a kilometre of the Sushant Lok police station.On November 24 evening, 62-year-old Aruna Issar’s purse was snatched while she was going back home to C Block Sushant Lok from Galleria Shopping Arcade. "I screamed and chased them with a stranger on a Luna but lost them on the way," she said.
The bag contained gold jewellery, important documents, several ATM cards, government identity cards, house keys and Rs 13,500 in cash. "I was in Delhi for two days for eye treatment and was carrying all my valuables with me. I have to travel tomorrow and it is difficult because I do not have my identity card. I do not know how I’ll enter my house since the keys were in the bag." She did not file an FIR because of a bad experience with the police. Instead of hunting down the criminals, the police usually caution the victims to be careful and not to carry valuables. They insist on having the bike’s licence number for a lead. Another victim, Mrs. Banerjee, said, "Police told me they are not locals, they are probably from Delhi." Describing her plight while her chain was snatched, Banerjee said, "I was looted in broad daylight. Two men came on a bike and snatched my chain. I could not see the number because I was taken aback. The chain weighed 18gm and was worth Rs 50, 000 along with the pendant. My pendant carried dried flowers from the Puja. It was more than a monetary loss."
Considering the skyrocketing prices of gold, stealing and selling gold is the easiest way to make big money. Women are the obvious targets. Some of the victims have been looted at knifepoint and some have had snatchers threatening them with acid bottles. Women residents are becoming particularly careful during their evening walks and daily shopping in the nearby Galleria. They avoid stepping out after sunset but given the daylight robberies in their areas, their precautions are obviously not enough to protect them.