Rise in Crime... Is Sealing to be Blamed?

July 14, 2008: The previous week has been full of robberies, violence, and pain for the residents/shop owners in the busy Kalkaji market. A couple of young guys, bike ridden, have robbed 3 shops of its entire cash register on gun point at peak shopping hours and the police is still "searching for them". One thing that came out common from all robberies was the intent. All victimized shopkeepers apprently asked the robbers why they were doing something so disgusting as they looked educated and from civilized families.

Their reply uncovered a harsh reality that may just be the tip of the iceberg. They clearly said that they have no other way to feed their families because the sealing drive by MCD has forced them out of business and their premises.

Surprise Surprise...!!

In an episode that completely surprised the residents of blocks A, B, and C in Kalkaji area of South Delhi, an MCD team accompanied with photographers, video recorders, and armed police force entered each household and checked for any commercial establishments operating out of the same. They made a video of each and every house and filled in the current status right there in their report formats. In addition, they warned certain people that they had not vacated the premises in spite of previous warnings.

This happened the last week of June, 2008. And from this week, people have started getting notices signed by MCD commissioner to either vacate the premises with commercial establishments, or get them sealed. People are completely confused as to whether they should file affidavits and promise the government that they will not allow any commercial activities from their respective properties or keep shut and watch the buildings getting sealed.