In the wake of a cab driver’s body being found in a car in Sector 9, Dwarka, just a few days ago, questions are being raised about the threat such abandoned vehicles pose to the security of residents.
Though, according to the police, the death was natural, the post-mortem report is yet to come. However, the community is shocked that a dead body could be left in a car for so long without anyone knowing — onlookers reported the incident only after a foul smell began to emanate from the car. This, indeed, is serious. Cabs parked in lonely spots for days can lead to dangerous outcomes.
This incident has become the talking point of the community. Drivers who take rest in their cars parked on main roads under the shadow of trees or other secluded spots, too, are not outside the ambit of suspicion. Sometimes, people use these spots to do drugs or alcohol. There have also been cases in which passers-by have been robbed by those hiding in empty, parked cars.
AS Chhatwal, vice-president of Dwarka Forum, and general secretary of the Sector 8 RWA, says, “This is a cause for serious concern. I never see police officials checking vehicles parked at lonely places. Many such cars are seen parked for several days, and no one takes notice — neither the community, nor the police.”
In Dwarka, such vehicles can be seen parked in almost all sectors — 22, 23, 20, 22, 19, 17, 18, 19, 4, 3, 9, 14, 12 and 13. Areas around Bharat Vandana Prangan, the football stadium project land, the cremation ground, Kargil Apartments, and stretches in sectors 3 and 4 are particularly vulnerable. MM Pandita, a resident of Sector 7, says, “Police should carry out routine checks on all such vehicles. They can also involve the community in spotting suspicious cars. I was there when the driver’s body was discovered in Sector 9. I can say that there is a certain gap between the authority and the people.”
Sanjeev Goel, general secretary of Dwarka Forum and a resident of Shivam Apartments in Sector 12, says, “Definitely, there must be a system to monitor the lanes and the roads in Dwarka. Once a truck was parked in the lane in front of my society for 15 days. When I complained to the police, their response: 'There is nothing suspicious in the truck.' I doubt they ever visited the truck and checked. This casual approach needs to be abandoned. We should join hands with the police to ensure the security and safety of Dwarka.”
