With Diwali drawing near, lajpat Nagar one of most frequented markets in the national Capital has started to attract shoppers. However, shoddy security arrangements have marred the festive shopping.
Pushpa Market had witnessed to one of the most horrifying bomb blasts in the city on May 21, 1996 that had claimed 13 lives and injured 80 people."Not much has changed since the 1996 bomb blast in lajpat Nagar's Central market, the situation has only worsened in the last 18 years," recounts a shopkeeper in Pushpa Market.
The security cover has plunged to zero even as the festival spirit grips the Capital. As scores of people descend the market for wedding preparations and festive shopping, the market is a sight of shoddy security arrangements. "There is no security cover as yet. The police swings into action for the namesake just a day before Diwali; else the shoppers and the shop- keepers are left to fend for themselves. The security arrangements should be tight throughout the considering the footfall of this market," said the president of Pushpa Market Traders' Welfare Association.
"You never know when an untoward incident may take place; this is the most crucial time for the shop owners as customers descend in the market in large numbers. But we can't avoid visiting markets because this is the ideal time for Diwali shopping or for wedding preparations. But we are aware that we are fraught with danger. The police should pull their socks up," said Shikha Verma, a visitor.
lajpat Nagar market resembles a mad house with hordes of hawkers and vendors screaming to attract the customers could be seen at the spot where the 1996 blast took place. "There are around 800-900 hawkers in Pushpa market alone. While the situation should have got better, here the pavements are a business to an array of vendors. These vendors don't have any registration or an ID, their business it totally illegal. We have no idea where they have come from and who they are," said a shopkeeper on the conditions of anonymity. The Supreme Court declared the Pushpa market as no hawking zone after the bomb blast.
The shopkeepers also alleged that the CCTV cameras are dysfunctional and "of no use". "Police focuses on taking money after dusk. There is a nexus between vendors and police and the reason behind the prevalence of vendors is the money-making business," alleged a shopkeeper.
"Meetings are on to discuss the security arrangements during the festive season. We will swing into action soon," said a police official. As the lanes remain cramped with vendors, the risk of a terror attack has thus increased manifold. Instead of manicured lanes, the streets are now a mode of living for at least double the number of hawkers than the past few years. "The numbers of hawkerws have dramatically increased. Therefore no security arrangements can be expected here. Anybody can hide an unidentified object, we will never come to know" said Ramesh lal, a shopkeeper.