Drunk pub goers target homes in Indiranagar, Koramangala, throw stones

Residents of Indiranagar, Koramangala are living in quite a distressing situation Commercialisation has made life in the vicinity difficult  Residents complain that stone pelting at homes and fights are orchestrated by public representatives and pub owners. The youngsters often park their cars and bike in front of houses for hours together and puke in front of their gates.

Indiranagar, Koramangala areas in Bengaluru are known to be some of the most happening neighbourhoods of the city. Almost all the famous eating and drinking places jostle for space in this locality. Needless to say it is popular haunt with the youth but off late some of the pub goers and patrons of eateries there have started misbehaving and causing damage to the houses of the people who live in the locality. 

Taking their fight against commercialisation of residential areas, residents of Indiranagar, Koramangala and other areas now say that the party goers and local goons pelt stones and threaten residents in an inebriated state. 

The residents had all voiced their reservations against the sprouting of pubs, bars and other commercial activities in the area since it was violating the zonal regulations. Irony is that the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagar Palike has issued trade licences to these traders who now operate in residential units and layouts. 

Frustrated by the apathy of the civic agency and police in preventing nuisance of unwanted traffic, loud music and encroachment of peace and privacy due to commercialisation, the residents united and warned these shopkeepers by taking out a protest march hoping that the menace would end, but to their surprise, the harassment has increased even more. 

"People come and park their cars in front of our homes and go to pubs and when we want to go out, we are stuck. When we question, the customers who are stone drunk pick up fights. There were incidents of stone pelting at homes as a warning from the customers and pub owners; we suspect it is a handy work of few party goers who regularly come to these bars," said Farooq Mohammed, from Indiranagar III stage.

Few residents say, as their house is located quite close to the pub on 12th main, often the young boys and girls come and rest near their compound wall and sometimes vomit due to heavy drinking.

Agreeing with Farooq, Vijayan Menon of Koramangala Resident Welfare Association says, the non-cooperation of local corporators is very evident  as they did not question commercial operation in residential areas

"Some of the residents complain that they are getting threats for taking on the mafia. These people who oppose the corporation for evicting hotels, pubs, bars and other commercial activities, would go to any extent. We also have decided to fight for justice," said  Menon. The public representatives and  commercial establishment owners have joined hands and are pressurising the BBMP commissioner from taking any steps. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Nitin Seshadri, another resident of Koramangala, demanded the speedy implementation of zonal regulations as per High Court order that restricts such shops and establishments to operate in residential areas and directs them to function only in designated commercial areas. "The real issue here is the will to implement this and enforce the rules," he said.