Mohan Garden residents stand up against drug abuse, attacked

45-year-old injured, properties vandalised; probe on to nab absconding accused

December 13, 2018 01:38 am | Updated 01:38 am IST - NEW DELHI

Residents of outer Delhi’s Mohan Garden were allegedly attacked by over 10 men on Sunday night, days after they took it upon themselves to stop sale of drugs in their locality, the police said on Wednesday.

A 45-year-old resident sustained severe injuries in the attack and windows of a car and a house were broken, the police also said.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer) Rajendra Singh Sagar confirmed the incident and said that a first information report has been registered in the matter. However, no arrest has been made so far. The police have tightened the security in the area as a precautionary measure.

The residents suspect the role of the alleged drug peddler, a differently abled person, behind the attack.

The residents said that the peddler had been selling drugs like smack and weed in the area for months due to which the place was being frequented by drug addicts. “There were always drug addicts walking around. The area had become unsafe for women and children,” said a 42-year-old woman, who did not wish to be named.

Patrol curbed sale

The residents approached the police around two weeks ago. Following this, residents, along with beat officers had been patrolling in the area for the last 12 days. “Because of the patrolling, his [the drug peddler’s] business had suffered a loss as he was not being able to sell drugs. As a fallout, a few men came and hurled abuses in the street and left. We ignored the incident as the sale of drugs had stopped,” the woman also said.

On Sunday night over ten men started shouting and creating ruckus in the area, after which the residents gathered. “Eventually, those men came with sticks and rods and started vandalising properties. The accused also ran towards the residents and tried to attack them, but almost everyone managed to run away,” the woman said.

A 45-year-old man, identified as Firoz Khan, who is an employee at an export factory in Moti Nagar, sustained severe injuries on his head, shoulder and waist. The victim said that the accused caught hold of him and started thrashing him.

“Everyone ran inside their houses, but I could not escape. They dragged me for a few metres. I was punched and attacked with sticks and bricks,” Mr. Khan said. The police were called after the accused fled from the spot.

“The police reached the spot and the Crime Team was called to inspect the area,” said an officer privy to the investigation.

The officer also said that a case under Sections 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 427 (mischief causing damage) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered at Ranhola police station.

The police said that they have visited the house of the drug peddler, but he was found absconding.

“He has a criminal case under sections of Excise Act registered against him. When the team visited his house, he was not found there. Whether he was involved in the crime or not will become clear once he is interrogated,” the officer said.

CCTV camera footage, the police said, has been obtained and scanned, “but faces are not clear”.

As a precautionary measure, the officer further said, beat officers have been asked to be around the area and the emergency response vehicle of the area has been asked to take frequent rounds.

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