Train stations too turn a bar

Apart from public places such as roads and footpaths, tourist hubs such as Shamirpet Lake and Gunrock fort or even local train stations in the city are being used by men to booze and create a nuisance harassing the public or families.

The police have been driving away people who use tourist places for boozing for several years now. “We have built up walls around the place (Gunrock fort) to stop the public. The army area situated opposite to the fort also deputes men for regular checks, in addition to our regular patrolling,” said Trimulgherry inspector of police R. Satyanarayana Raju.

Recalling a similar incident near Shamirpet Lake, a student said, “My friends and I usually go to cycle at Shamirpet lake after college hours. But the other day, the police shouted at us and asked us to immediately evacuate the place,” said Roshan, a student of BITs Pilani, who is one among the many irked by the unnecessary policing around the area.

“The police have the right to act only if we are breaking a law. Unless and until there is a law that prevents us from going to the lake, the police actually have no right to stop us from hanging out there. I don't understand their point,” said the student who is a resident of Shamirpet.

However, the cops insist that this is necessary for the safety of people.

D. Bhaskar Reddy, Inspector of Police, explains, “It's not safe to hang out near the lake after 6 pm. Once it goes dark, the place will be occupied by drunkards and gamblers. So we discourage people from hanging out at the lake.”