‘Cops didn’t take past CCTV grabs of gang seriously’

Mumbai: Monday’sattack has served as a wake-up call toresidents of Borivli’s Sai Krupa building, who held an emergency meeting to discuss plans to beef up security, including installing closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and hiring more security guards.
Local residents say despite increased police patrolling, house break-ins are regularly reported in other localities of Borivli.There has been instances where the chaddi-banyan gang, for instance, has been caught on CCTV cameras, they say. Early on Sunday morning, too, the gang was caught on CCTVs while breaking into a flat in Borivli’s M H B Colony.
“Borivli police have been repeatedly alerted of possibility of attacks by members of this gang but they do not take us seriously,” said a resident of I C Colony, requesting anonymity.
TOI was the first to report on two occasions last year, in October and December, that CCTVs had captured chaddi banian gang members entering buildings in Borivli (West).
On October 14, security guards of an I C Colony building had alerted residents of CCTV footage showing four-five men, suspected to be of the chaddi-banian gang, trespass into the building premises. No flat was robbed nor anyone attacked, though. Almost two months later, on December 4, CCTV grabs of a Jayraj Nagar society in Borivli (West) captured seven members, again suspected to be from the chaddi-banian gang, climbing the building’s stairs and attempting to break into three flats.
The incident occurred under the jurisdiction of M H B Colony police station.
However, in both cases, while residents submitted CCTV footage, no complaint was filed with the police.
Meanwhile, Monday’s attack on senior couple, Rohit Desai (60) and wife Mamta (58), by members of the chaddi-banian gang has sent shockwaves in the entire locality. Till late evening, residents could be seen watching out for any suspicious movement in the area. Residents said this is the first time ever that such a crime has occurred in their locality.
“The Desai couple has been living alone in the building since their two daughters got married. They were returning from a satsung in a temple nearby when they were attacked. We called a meeting during the day to discuss beefing up security in the building,” lawyer Deepak Chavan, their neighbour, told TOI.