Vijayawada: Miscreants, most of them drunk, are back at the night food courts.
Earlier, after this newspaper reported the issue, the city police commissioner had increased patrolling at food courts and anyone consuming liquor at the night food courts was being taken into custody.
Over time, things have returned to ‘normal’, with people under influence hovering at the night food courts, and scaring away decent citizens. Matters have turn so bad that late on Saturday, two gangs, under influence of liquor, clashed with each other at the night food court situated on Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium road.
The street fight created so much terror that it left law-abiding citizens, especially women and children, terrified.The night food courts have been welcomed by a majority of the citizens, especially those who work night shifts. To them, they have been a blessing, as they could satisfy their hunger pangs. The affordable prices and choice of food helped the concept gain quick popularity.
Since its inception, the idea of night food courts struck a chord with one and all. Vijayawadites thronged the place, and soon enough, drunkards followed suit.
Though the cops had been conducting the occasional check and arresting drunk drivers, this did not deter hooligans from loitering around the night food courts. Complaints that these miscreants are drinking near the food courts in their vehicles and passing vulgar comments on others are now a regular feature.
“Every day, they are creating nuisance here,” said P. Uday, who runs a dosa stall.
He said though the police is doing rounds, the sound of police sirens drives these miscreants away into hiding and they return once the patrol car leaves.
