The recent slew of street crimes in east Delhi indicates a worrying trend. It shows how rising violence in people is turning simple and easy-to-resolve feuds into catastrophic occurrences. East Delhi, one of the sought-after areas to live, is soon becoming a place where anger erupts in minutes and heated conversations become deadly. The three major incidents, a person shooting his younger brother in Madhu Vihar, a terrifying street fight involving a gun in Preet Vihar, and the murder of a wife who did not give money to his husband for liquor in Khichripur, show the extent to which everyday peace has been dismantled.
Simple Conflicts Taking a Violent Turn
In the first incident that occurred in Delhi's Mandavali High Paar area, Anand Mishra (35) shot his younger brother, Anirudh Mishra (29), at 12 noon. The police said that the accused was a drug addict and was living away from his family. There was an ongoing rivalry between the brothers, but it erupted into an almost fatal action when Anand tried to kill his brother. Fortunately, Anirudh was rushed to the hospital where his condition is now stable.
The second incident involved an aggressive fight between two groups of people outside a cafe in Preet Vihar. Bharat Sharma and his friends, Pankaj Sharma and Jasmeet Singh, came out of the Nyt Life Cafe when they got into an argument with two people, Talib and Bilal. Talib and Bilal worked in the cafe and were jealous of Sharma and his friends. Shortly into the argument, Talib took out his pistol and waved it in the air. The police nearby saw the act on CCTV footage and arrested Talib and Bilal.
The third incident, which took place in Khichripur, was the most violent of all. A man named Sanju stabbed his wife, Geeta, when she didn't give him more money to buy liquor. The man even stabbed his 14-year-old son when he tried to rescue his mother. Although the son survived, his mother succumbed to the serious injuries. After committing the crime, Sanju fled to Aligarh and tried to take his own life but was rescued by the local people.
What Is Driving Ordinary People to Become Criminals?
Shootings, extortions, and murders have become daily occurrences in East Delhi. The BJP-led government, it seems, is accustomed to the frequent crimes but isn't doing anything to curtail them.
East Delhi is an area with an equal mix of upscale and low-end localities. One of the major reasons for the troubling pattern of violence can be the large migrant population. It is largely poor and most people are unemployed or work in low-paying and unskilled jobs. This sparks dissatisfaction with the circumstances, which often leads to anger issues.
Another reason is that many areas in East Delhi are highly congested. The huge population makes the places vulnerable to conflicts and petty crimes. People in these lower-income urban neighbourhoods regularly face socio-economic pressures, leading them to resort to drugs and similar substances. In turn, it impairs judgment, increases irritability, and heightens the chances of conflicts.
The conflicts are not solely external. Unresolved family issues, along with prior addictions, turn family members into each other's foes. These issues may remain hidden but soon show up when a family member is provoked.
Financial strain is endemic in East Delhi's low-income households. Sanju’s violence was ignited by his wife’s refusal to give him money for alcohol. It is a telltale pattern of cases where addiction leads to family tension.
What Can Be Done to Curb Acts of Violence?
Given the rising rates of crimes, it is high time for the government to take some concrete actions. Although it has taken certain measures, many acts of violence are still going unnoticed. Here's what can be done:
- More emphasis should be placed on awareness programs to prevent drug abuse.
- Enhance police-public interaction through community outreach programs focussing on building trust between residents and police so people can report incidents without hesitation.
- Build a stronger police presence in high-risk areas like Mandavali, Preet Vihar, and Khichdipur in East Delhi.
- Create rehabilitation services for people with drug addiction and make counselling for such people accessible.
- Strengthen family bonds through conflict resolution programs and family therapy.
- Promote skill development programs to alleviate economic pressures and insecurity.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
*The views expressed are personal to the author and do not reflect the platform's opinion of the same.
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Praggya Joshi is a seasoned content writer specializing in creative writing, long-form, and short-form social media content. She has worked in the B2B, SaaS, health, and IT spheres and carries a deep knowledge of building SEO-optimized and user-friendly content strategies. A poet at heart, she finds solace in weaving her thoughts and life experiences into free-flowing verses. Praggya is devoted to honing her craft and tries her best to move past her comfort zone and gain new skills.
