Rape instills fear in residents of Ludhiana

LUDHIANA: The rape of a 21-year-old girl — who lived as a paying guest in Rajguru Nagar — on Sunday has shocked both women and men, who feel that no one is safe on city streets with such rogues moving around in the night.
Rajiv Bakshi, a retired banker from Rajguru Nagar, said: "We are not only scared for the women of our houses but also for ourselves.A senior citizen like me cannot fight three people, who are criminals," said Bakshi.
Ritu Hans, a home maker and resident of Rajguru Nagar, sharing her concerns informed that they were not only worried for themselves but for their children as well. "Our daughters move out, go to colleges and tuitions and all we can do is pray for their safety. There has to be a multipronged policy to deal with the problem. Presence of police is one thing and a stringent punishment for the accused is another. Apart from this a little care has to be taken when moving out on odd hours," she said.
Amarjeet Kaur, a working woman living near Keys Hotel, said they need some kind of protection. "We have to go out for work and at times one gets late. The area nearby Rajguru Nagar and even the Lodhi Club Road that finally touches Pakhowal Road is very lonely and there are many dark spots. There have to be more CCTV cameras and surveillance of police on these roads," she added.
Preeti Kaur, businesswoman from BRS Nagar, said: "Women in the city are not going to be locked in houses as they have to move out. It is the responsibility of the authorities to ensure that there is a safe environment for them to work and move with their families. Unfortunately, these incidents of rape and eve teasing are emerging as a great problem."
Another business woman from Rajguru Nagar, Kitty Bakshi, said: "There is a huge concentration of migrant people around Rajguru Nagar and there is no account of people coming, staying and going. There is no verification at all. Gated communities are one such example of how we are trying to protect ourselves. There is no fear in the minds of the culprits and that is the reason why such crimes are happening. Police alone cannot solve these problems."