Residents of the Millennium City who often frequented MG Road famous for its malls and eateries have stopped going there after dark. Recent incidents of eve-teasing and harassment have caused a fear psychosis among residents who used to party late into the night at the MG Road hot spots. The complete lack of confidence in the cops is a telling reflection on policing in Gurugram.
The residents now either go to Sector-29, Golf Course Road, DLF Cyber Hub or call their friends home. Most people stay away from MG Road at night. Though the police have put up barricades and check vehicles regularly for drunk driving, there are some spots where miscreants stand around and pass lewd comments at girls.
Gurgaon residents shared their nightmarish experiences on MG Road after 8 p.m.“Sahara Mall has most of the night clubs which remain open till midnight and when girls or couples leave a club, basically when they reach the parking lot or wait for a cab some men standing there think they are prostitutes,” said Mannu Bharadwaj, a resident.
“There is a big prostitution racket on at MG road. You will see besides Sahara mall autorickshaws are parked with girls sitting in them and men roaming around. I have seen negotiations going on. The irony is that police barricades are put up in front of MG road and these kind of things are going on just under the cops’ noses. My friends and I now prefer to party at home or go to Sector-29,” said Bharadwaj.
Janvi, a corporate professional, recalled how she was waiting for an auto one evening at MG Road when a drunk man came and asked her to be his friend. “I refused but that guy followed me home and the next day I had to change my residence. From that day I go to MG Road malls only in the daytime,” she said.
“I once visited MGF mall with my family to watch a movie as most of the theatres are located on MG Road. It was around 8 pm and a drunk man hit my car and started arguing. He even threatened me saying he is from a neighbouring village and if I didn’t give him money for his mistake he would snatch my car. I had to pay him for damages to his car though it was not my fault at all. That day I decided going to MG Road after 8 p m is a mistake as there is no one to help if you get into some trouble,” said Prashant Dabral, a resident.