The Hindu : Other States / Orissa News : Deserted houses come in handy for anti-socials in Berhampur

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Sunday, Aug 19, 2007
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Deserted houses come in handy for anti-socials in Berhampur

Staff Reporter

For several reasons, house construction being stopped midway

They serve as meeting points of criminals to plan their activities
SDPO says keeping a regular watch on them is difficult

BERHAMPUR: Deserted incomplete houses and places desolate at night in the city have started to become dens of anti-socials adding to the headache of city police.

Most of these deserted houses serve as meeting points of criminals for their planning sessions.

At times they also serve as illicit gambling or liquor dens.

Last week body of a ninth class student, Saroj Samantra was recovered near a deserted incomplete building near Nigam Nagar of Ankuli area of the city.

Police investigation found that the deserted building was serving as an illicit gambling den throughout the day.

Baidyanathpur police had in the past unearthed an ‘adda’ of mobile and chain snatchers of the city, which was operating at an incomplete deserted building.

Sex racket

Badabazar police had raided a sex racket which was operating at a similar deserted building at Prem Nagar area of the house.

Recently the Giri Market traders’ association has complained that some desolate areas of the market have become dwelling points of anti-socials at night.

It is alleged that unguarded Nehru park and Indira Priyadarsini park, which are managed by the local municipality are also serving as points for nefarious activities at night.

With the continuing expansion of the city construction of houses have started at areas which do not have proper road link.

Due to several reasons the owners of these houses are stopping construction midway and leaving it deserted for years.

And these houses serve as shelter points of antisocials prowling at night.

The Sub-divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Nitinjit Singh also feels keeping regular watch on these deserted houses is a problem for police patrols as these houses usually do not even have any walkable path to them.

The chairman of the Berhampur Development Authority (BDA), Sarat Ranjan Patnaik also accepts that there are numerous half completed houses in the city which are remaining deserted for years.

"As per the norms the house owners have to get their buildings completed within three years of approval of their plans by the BDA but many constructions get stopped midway due various reasons".

And the anti-socials use these deserted houses as their safe havens within the city limits at night.

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