Rising number of drug-addicts a cause for concern, say women

PANVEL: Panvel, one of the fastest developing nodes of Navi Mumbai, seems to have attracted a number of drug-addicts and beggars who were evicted from Mumbai city by the police in light of the rising crime rate.

Taking i nto account t he widespread insecurity among women travelling by local trains after the attack on an American woman in a train by a drug addict, and the gangrape of a photojournalist by drug addicts, the Mumbai police have initiated action against beggars and drug addicts with criminal records. Several such addicts have now taken shelter under the flyover at Panvel to avoid police action. They occupy the vacant area under the elevated bridge in the node.

Residents are worried that this could increase crimes in the city too. “A number of drug addicts can be seen doing indecent acts in local trains which creates fear among women commuters,” said a woman commuter. Now, with a rising number of drug users in the city, the fear is that such instances in local trains will increase too, she added.

“The authorities need to come down hard on such elements and rid the city of them. There could be serious consequences otherwise,” said legislator Varsha Naik.

Police said they are looking in to the issue and will crack down on any criminal elements that threaten the residents.