Hansi’s historical sites a den of addicts
HANSI (HISAR): Even as the Hisar administration is planning to start a special bus service to take tourists to various historical sites in the city, it is faced with a peculiar challenge— most of these sites have become a den of drug addicts and have been encroached upon by squatters.
When HT visited the three main historical sites in the city— Asigarh Fort also known as Prithviraj Chauhan Fort, Char Qutub Dargah and Lal Sadak— empty bottles of liquor and used syringes were found strewn on the ground.
Bhup Singh, a historian and the author of the book, Hansi ka Itihas, said, “It is true that important historical sites such as Lal Sadak, Asigarh Fort and Char Qutub area, have turned into safe havens for drug addicts. We have often seen college students indulging in illegal activities at these spots and informed the local administration but to no avail.”
Speaking about the menace, Ram Kishan, a sewadaar at the Char Qutub Dargah, said, “We take care of the main dargah but there are three other tombs behind it which have become a favourite haunt of the addicts. When we ask them to leave, they start fighting with us. Our several complaints to the police have proved fruitless.”
Chand Miyan, the main sewadaar at the Char Qutub dargah, rues that the place is losing its charm due to the drug addicts. “Char Qutub is an important worship site for the Muslim community. People from all communities visit the dargah to offer their prayers. But the anti-social elements are ruining the place,” he said.
When contacted, Hisar deputy commissioner Priyanka Soni said, “Yes I have come to know about the matter and we will install better lighting and deploy more guards at these sites to rein in on the anti-social elements. I will also write to Hansi superintendent of police to take stock of the situation.”
We have often seen college students indulging in illegal activities at these spots and informed the police but no action was taken.
BHUP SINGH, historian