GUWAHATI:: Residents of the Dr. R.P. Road stretch in Guwahati's Ganeshguri took matters into their own hands on the night of June 20, gathering with lathis after what they describe as months of unresolved disturbances around a bar. The incident took place around midnight.
ALSO READ: Major Landslide Cuts Off Shillong–Dawki Road in Meghalaya, Travellers Advised to Use Alternate Routes
According to locals, the spot has for some time been the site of nightly gatherings of intoxicated young people, with residents alleging loud, vulgar behaviour and objectionable conduct after dark.
A local resident went ahead to compare the area to a red light area with its current condition and actities.
Several residents say they have approached both the Commissioner's office and the local police station with complaints on multiple occasions, but that action, when it comes, tends to be short-lived, with police visits followed by a return to the same conditions within a few days.
A woman from the neighbourhood went further, telling reporters the locality has begun to feel unsafe after dark, saying she and other women in the area now avoid stepping out at night because of the atmosphere created by the gatherings.
Frustration reportedly boiled over on the night of June 20, when a crowd of residents gathered at the spot carrying lathis, in what appeared to be an attempt to enforce order themselves after repeated complaints failed to bring lasting change.
Residents are now calling for sustained police presence in the area rather than short-term action, and whether the events of June 20 prompt a longer-term response from local authorities remains to be seen.
An official source said regular night patrolling is conducted along the area by Guwahati Police as it is a busy area, crowd gathering is common as there are food vendors along the road.
Notably the area is one of the very few locations in Guwahati City where fast food is sold at odd hours of the night.