Spread over 98 acres, the recently-revived Agara Lake has also become the hub of youngsters who frequent the place and indulge in drugs and public display of affection. The families and children that visit the park are visibly embarassed and have complained to the park authorities. This has prompted the cops to take action on such errant couples misusing a public space. However, the youngsters are not happy with this intrusion. In addition, there have been cases of chain snatching and usage of drugs.
Complains one such disgruntled person going by the Twitter handle ‘Bandit Biker’: “Why are police officers harassing couples, families and friends alike sitting on the lakeside at Agara lake? This isn’t the first time. What point are you trying to put across? I think the public is entitled to use the park without officers bullying people around including kids.”
The park caretakers respond to this by saying, “No moral policing, there are many who indulge is public nuisance and when kids are around, one needs to create a safe space, it does come with general restrictions! There has been serious police cases of late and in the interest of larger public safety, cops are doing their rounds,” says Kavitha Reddy of the Agara Lake Protection & Management Society. “Don’t agree with allegations that the police is harassing families and kids. Yes, there has been huge public nuisance by couples which visitors themselves have complained to the authorities. Last evening, a few were caught doing an illegal act. Public spaces have to be safe and some strict action has to be taken by the police!”
DRUGS, SEX & CRIME
The park caretakers have told us that couples have been caught making out inside the park premises. In addition, they have been seen taking drugs. A couple of chain snatching incidents have also occurred inside the lake premises. While one thief was caught, the other escaped due to an alert woman.
The presence of cops has now become a must due to all these incidents. This is also one of the reasons why the park is closed during the afternoons. The lung space and the caretakers also require some breathing space before the crowds come in the evenings.
“On the night of December 31, people were caught drinking alcohol,” says Reddy. “We had to call the cops and have them removed from the place. The next day morning, our security men saw a couple having sex behind the bushes, closer to the lake.”
The park caretakers are fed up of this nuisance. Condoms are found all over and couples are seen fondling each other in front of families and kids. The visibility factor is quite high compared to Lalbagh or Cubbon Park. Due to pruning of the grass, the snakes are out in the open. Therefore, the visitors are being told not to sit on the lawns, particularly when they have kids with them.
