Mumbai: Three days after actor Kritika Chaudhary was found dead in her flat in Four Bungalows, Andheri, the society is yet to organise security for the building — a pointer to the failure of residential societies to undertake even basic measures for residents’security.
Kritika, who stayed alone in the rented flat, was found dead on June 12. The Hindu visited the building on Thursday, and found that the murder has done nothing to impress the importance of security measures on its residents. The building has a low, rusty gate. There are no guards or entry and exit register for visitors. The watchman who worked there is being questioned almost every day by the police in connection with the murder, and residents have not hired a replacement.
An officer at Amboli police station, who is part of the investigation, said, “The lack of security in the building has also impacted the investigation. The watchman does not know about the last visitor, or even frequent visitors to Kritika's residence. There are no CCTV cameras in the society. Whoever killed Kritika was able to enter the building, commit the murder and leave without anyone noticing.”
Police said the biggest reason behind residential societies not going in for security measures is the lack of a law making it mandatory.
“Even though these security requirements are not legally enforced, we ask housing societies to take into consideration the well-being of their residents, and enforce appropriate measures to boost security,” said Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Deven Bharti.
Mumbai Police spokesperson DCP Rashmi Karandikar added, “We regularly advise residential societies to have suitable security arrangements like watchmen, CCTV cameras, etc. We will also try to make a conscious effort to spread awareness amongst our citizens to keep in place some basic security requirements.”
