Mahalingapuram residents complain about ganja menace

Residents of the locality also complained of transgender people taking part in anti-social activities in the locality

CCTV cameras are not a deterrent for those selling ganja in Mahalingapuram.

Residents of Mahalingapuram are reportedly irked by two problems — ganja sales and solicitation in the public. They claim that there has been no action from police despite repeated complaints. There are over 1,000 residents in Mahalingapuram. They claim that few people are occupying the dark alleys in the nights for the past five years and involved in solicitation.   "They stand at different points in the locality. When residents walk past, they demand money from us too. It has become a huge problem," said K. Sekhar, committee member of Mahalingapuram Resident Welfare Association. He said that some time ago, he approached Prem Anand Sinha, the then Addditional Commissioner of police regarding the problem. "There used to be container trucks parked in the locality and all the anti-social activities used to happen behind it. He asked his personnel to remove the lorries and the problem was brought under control," he explained. However recently, the problem has aggravted again. G G Jayaraman, a resident of the locality, has mailed a complaint to the City Police Commissioner about the issue on October 2. "Two days ago some policeman called and said that they will look into the complaint. But as of now nothing has happened. Residents, especially women and children, are not able to venture outside after 10 p.m. All this happens despite CCTV cameras installed in the locality and regular patrolling by policemen," claimed Mr. Jayaraman. Another problem highlighted by the residents is the sale of ganja. "The traders come and stand at designated points and the contraband is sold in just few minutes. We chase them away every day," alleged Mr. Sekhar. A police officer said that he will look into the issue. "We are filing cases against those who are involved in solicitation and chasing them away. Earlier, there used to be more than 50 of them, now there are one or two," said a police officer. Regarding sale of ganja in the locality, the officer said that it was a false allegation. "We are closely monitoring it. Contraband sale does not happen here," he claimed.