Noida’s Sector 50: A series of crimes leaves residents jittery

A series of crimes reported from Sector 50, Noida, has left the residents feeling insecure. There has been a mix of snatchings, mugging, and theft. The residents point that the local police have yet to step up their act in making them feel safer.

On August 26, 2021, Sahadat Ali (45), who has a vegetable stall near Stellar Kings Court, sector 50, had the entire stock of his vegetables stolen from his stall in his absence. The crime took place at around 7 in the morning when Ali had gone to a nearby vegetable market.

On November 6, 2021, Kapil Grover [43], a visitor to sector 50  was standing in front of  SBI, near Mahagun Manor, Sector 50, at 10:00 am, waiting for his brother Naven Grover, a resident of sector 50, to pick him. While waiting, Kapil took out his phone from his pocket to make a call. Suddenly from his right-hand side, a person came riding a bike, snatched his mobile phone, and sped off. He later reported the incident at the local (sector 44) police station. “The police officer on duty told me that they will look at the CCTV footage of the incident. We have not heard anything about the incident from the police since,” says Kapil Grover.

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On November 17, 2021, in another such incident captured on CCTV  camera, phone and car keys were snatched from a woman in front of  Stellar King Court society, sector 50 Noida. The incident took place at around 10 pm. The crime was committed by two men riding a bike. Residents alleged that in a fortnight, this was a second snatching reported from this sector of Noida.

On November 29, 2021,  Anindya Lala, 57, a resident of  Mahagun Manor,  Sector 50, was on his way back home at around 7:30 pm. He was just about  500 m away from his home, walking on the side of the main road when he was mugged at gunpoint by two men on a bike. This incident too took place near Stellar King Court society, Sector 50.

Such repeated incidents have left the local residents feeling unsafe. especially the morning walkers, cyclists, and others who preferred to walk for local shopping.

Renu Chauhan,  53, resident of Stellar King Court society, who goes for a walk daily in the morning,

says, “When I go for a walk in the morning, it is completely dark outside. As a precaution I don’t carry my phone nor do I wear any jewelry. Still, I hesitate at the stretch of road with dark patches.  For almost last a fortnight, I have not seen any police presence in our locality.”

Narendra Kumar Singh, [36],  Maintenance Supervisor, Mahagun Manor,  Sector 50, says, “What happened with our society’s resident Anindya  Lala was not completely captured in the CCTV camera. The incident has created a sense of fear among the residents.”

Rajiva Singh, a resident of Stellar  King Court society, says, “We should take some important measures in order to stop this nuisance.  There should be a Vigilance committee in sectors and regular coordination meetings with police. More CCTV cameras should be installed as they are very important in capturing the culprits and will deter future crimes”.

Vinod Kumar Singh, Station House Officer, Sector 49 police station, says, “We have found some important clues and we hope some positive news will come soon. But we can say these are only stray incidents and no organised gang is operating here.”