Rape aftermath: No good patrol on Berlie Street

BANGALORE: While the case of alleged sexual torture of a 20-year-old woman by a gang of 11 men sent shock waves across the city, it is still unclear which police station mans the isolated Berlie Street. One portion of the road comes under the jurisdiction of Ashok Nagar Police Station and the other falls under the ambit of Wilson Garden Police Station.The result ultimately is lack of safety and security for the people who travel on this road. A girl who was going with her friend on a two-wheeler on Berlie Street was waylaid by a gang of miscreants and molested on Sunday night here. They were relieved of their valuables too. The victim is now recovering in a private hospital.Meanwhile, the Ashok Nagar police have arrested four persons and three minors in this connection. They have been identified as Praveen Kumar, 20, Govardhan, 21, Praveen Kumar S H, 22, Ramesh, 24. All are said to be residents of Vinayaknagar. They were produced before the 11th ACMM court and remanded in custody.The police also said that Ramesh has a criminal background and was booked under a theft case at the Wilson Garden Police Station.When contacted, a policeman attached to Wilson Garden Police Station claimed that the burial ground there does not fall under their jurisdiction. Their jurisdiction starts from Vinayakanagar and surrounding areas.The scene of crime that took place on Sunday falls under the jurisdiction of Ashok Nagar Police Station, he added.The residents to whom the Express spoke to alleged that there is no effective patrolling by the personnel of both these police stations, thus providing an opportunity for  miscreants to take advantage of the situation.A number of robberies have taken place on this road but most of the victims have failed to lodge complaints with the jurisdictional police station, the locals complained.A shopkeeper who preferred anonymity told Express that they hardly see police patrolling after 7 pm. They come only once in morning and once in evening, he said.In the meantime, the residents of Vinayakanagar want both Ashok Nagar and Wilson Garden police to deploy more men in the area to check crime.“While burial grounds of other communities have foolproof security with a big compound wall and guards, it is absent in this burial ground. Naturally, this place has become a safe haven for nefarious activities,” the residents of Vinayakanagar complained.