Vikaspuri slum hub of drugs, illegal alcohol

Of the 100 PCR calls made on average in Vikaspuri, where 40-year-old dentist Pankaj Narang was brutally murdered on Thursday, as many as 35 are received from and around Indra camp No. 4 jhuggi cluster, where the accused linked to the murder lived. A majority of these calls are related to drug abuse, illegal consumption of alcohol and scuffles between jhuggi inhabitants, according to sources in the police.

Prime accused Naseer and his associates are common faces in and around the camp, regularly involved in scuffles and tantrums after consuming alcohol, according to the police sources.

“Out of 100 PCR calls from the area on an average, we receive at least 35 calls are received from and around the Indra camp slum.

Most complaints are about scuffles and fisticuffs between groups of people, drug addiction and sale of illegal alcohol,” one of the sources said.

Businessman Rajiv Bharadwaj, who stays close to the camp, said there is open sale of illegal liquor, marijuana and brown sugar in the slum cluster.

“The jhuggi attracts youth from good families as they go there to buy cheap alcohol and drugs. There are regular problems around the camp and it has become very unsafe for both men and women at any time of the day,” said Mr Bharadwaj.

Forty-two-year-old Mohan, who owns a tea stall in the slum cluster, complained about the problems even the slum inhabitants face regularly. “There are three to four men who sell illegal alcohol and drugs in the camp. The alcohol comes in small plastic bottles and costs as less as Rs 20.”

“The men drink and misbehave with their wives. Drugs have become a menace in this place. Young kids instead of studying are indulging in it and selling them too,” he said.

When asked if the police is acting to stem the problem or not, the tea stall owner said, “We see the police around the jhuggi. They know about everything but till now have not done anything to stop the problem or else we would have seen a difference.”