No check on lawlessness in 3B2 market: Mohali traders

Phase-3B2 market welfare associations and shopkeepers today posed serious questions to the Mohali police regarding the deteriorating law and order situation in the area. One by one they raised issues being faced by them on daily basis and the police’s inability to keep a check on anti-social elements.

Traders and shopkeepers were particularly peeved at youths and anti-social elements openly consume liquor in public places and the market area of Phase-3B2 and then indulging in rioting, parking brawls, and dangerous driving. Boys and girls indulged in obscene activities here, they said. Of late, transgender wearing weird dresses could be seen roaming late at night and harassed visitors here, they said.

“Street vendors and illegal encroachments in the lots by parking cars and vans full of merchandise create nuisance till late at night,” they said.

Market Welfare Association president Akwinder Singh Gosal said, “Addicts consume alcohol in public places and urinate there only. If we stop them they attack us. The law and order situation is deteriorating and customers now avoid coming to the market. Our own families avoid coming here due to this atmosphere. We had asked for a meeting with the police and submitted a memorandum today.”

Traders Ashok Kumar, Ankit Kumar and Rajiv Bhatia said their repeated complaints had fallen on deaf ears. “The police comes for a week or two in the market and then it is back to square one,” they said.

“Encroachers come to the market in their private cars and other vehicles. They park their vehicles in the parking areas and sell their goods or run makeshift eateries till late at night. If shopkeepers object, they fight with them. Due to this, other customers do not get a place to park their vehicles and avoid coming here,” said Tarlochan Singh Baidwan, a trader.

Market Welfare Association chairman Ashok Kumar demanded that the Municipal Corporation and the police ensure that market was closed by 11 pm.

Vineet Verma, a member of the Punjab State Traders Commission, said, “A nodal officer from the Police Department has been deployed to keep anti-social elements in check. Police patrolling will be intensified from today.”

After a meeting with the representatives of Phase 3B2 market associations, Mohali SP Dilpreet Singh said, “Shopkeepers have apprised us about their problems. The police will resolve them on priority basis.”