Bengaluru: The horrific rape on the Cubbon Park premises early Thursday was a disaster waiting to happen. Time and again regular walkers at the park have complained about the lapses and shortcomings in the park security.
In January this year, Deccan Chronicle had reported about the irregularities in park security. According to highly placed sources, the Horticulture department claims there are 24 security guards working in three shifts (8 in each shift), but only five guards were on duty all through the day. The source added that during routine inspections in the park, the security agency, which appointed guards, outsourced security workers from other parks and showed that there were 24 guards at work.
Also, the absence of strict security in the park has been evident on multiple occasions, says a walker on condition of anonymity.
“Two years ago, there was an attempt to rape near the Bandstand in the park. But that incident was brushed under the carpet by higher officials and ministers. Now, a rape has taken place. The Horticulture department should be directly made responsible for overlooking the lapses,” the walker said.
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Not just evenings, even day time could sometimes be dangerous in the park as there are no guards, points out Cubbon Park Walkers’ Association President S. Umesh.
“We see visitors to the park carrying plastic, plucking flowers, even throwing garbage and violating rules. Since there is no strict vigilance in the park, small violations go unnoticed. Now, the rape comes as a shocker to the city. We hope that the rape incident is an eye-opener to the government and at least now it will increase the safety measures,” he said.
The walkers stressed that the Cubbon Park Management Authority was the need of the hour and the contract with the security agency had to be terminated.
The Horticulture Department office in Cubbon Park had outsourced security guards from one Pawan Security Service. While Raju Meti, the prime accused is from Morigaon district in Assam, Bolinn Dass is from Boragabadi village in Sonitpur district in Assam. “Both of them have been working at the Cubbon Park over the last two months for a salary of Rs 8,000, said Narasimha, security supervisor at the Horticulture Department.
“The Cubbon Park horticulture office has employed 8 security guards for its eight gates in three shifts each totaling 24 security guards. “We have summoned the security agency to check whether they have carried out background verification of their security guards before employing them,” said Sandeep Patil, DCP Central Division.
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