Wild Nights At East Shankar Nagar, Cops’ Eyes Wide Shut

Nagpur: Deadline violations in East Shankar Nagar and Bajaj Nagar eateries have sunk the once-peaceful residential pockets into chaos, where revelry continues well past midnight. Police, however, argue their vigilance and actions are on. A TOI recce of East Shankar Nagar eateries at 1:00am unearthed the menace. "We will party till 2:30am," said a reveller.Residents are livid with illegal pubs, cafes and shady bars on encroached PDKV land, some deep inside the bushes and built on a choked nullah, flouting closing timings. Police presence remains minimal, often reduced to routine patrols. The situation escalated dramatically over the past year-and-a-half and police records show 81 actions against eateries, mischief-mongers and nuisance creators in East Shankar Nagar and Bajaj Nagar areas.However, ground reality tells a different story. As soon as patrolling vehicles leave the stretch, the crowd returns with vigour. "The bulk of the crowd is unruly and most often drunk," said a local resident. "Cops are rarely seen after 2am, but parties go on till dawn."Youngsters throng pubs that operate well past the stipulated deadline. Loud music, raucous laughter and noisy vehicles tear through the area. Residents complain of ‘road romeos' zooming around, creating traffic snarls and safety hazards.Senior citizens are worst affected. Constant noise pollution, open drinking, and late-night disturbances have robbed them of sleep. Even more alarming are reports of narcotics peddlers operating in the guise of customers, say residents. Locals have witnessed youngsters in compromising situations in dimly lit corners and parked vehicles, pointing to open public indecency. Discarded bottles, cigarette butts and food packets choke the nullah and pavements.Bajaj Nagar police station inspector Chetan Chauhan acknowledged the complaints. "We are aware of the problem and conduct night patrols. Our officers target crowded spots and act against loiterers," he said. Police claim to have charged several establishments for deadline violations and initiated preventive measures against rowdy elements. The nightlife boom on encroached PDKV land has severely impacted daily life. Many point out that the eateries and bars deliberately encourage late-hour gatherings to boost business, ignoring residential norms.Locals are now demanding stricter enforcement, including surprise raids after 2 am.