Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email SHAH ALAM: A large group of residents from Taman Perumahan Tennamaram in Batang Berjuntai travelled 90km in a school bus and several cars here to get the attention of the state police over alleged harassment by gangsters in their area.
The group of about 80 people, who included senior citizens, women and children, also came to voice their unhappiness with the Kuala Selangor police over its alleged failure to stop the gangsters.
They arrived at the Selangor police headquarters in Section 9 here at about 4.30pm yesterday.
However, only five representatives of the group, headed by spokesman M. Devaraju, were allowed into the compound to meet state deputy CID chief, Asst Comm Chee Cheng Wan.
The others, as well as the media, were barred from entering the place.
The residents' representatives handed to ACP Chee copies of police reports they had lodged with the Kuala Selangor police on the alleged bullying by the gangsters.
Over the past 10 years, they claimed, the gangsters had threatened, beaten and slashed people in their community of 110 homes as well as those in another 100 homes in a neighbouring housing estate.
Devaraju said the gangsters had broken into cars and houses, and they have also set homes on fire.
He said the residents had lodged countless reports at the district police station over the last 10 years, only to see the gang members unleashing their anger against the complainants.
“The gang members seemed to know we had lodged a report, even before we reach home.
“The complainants are threatened and then beaten up,” added Devaraju, whose father was beaten up several years ago.
He claimed raising the matter with local leaders too made little difference as the menace just continued.
Devaraju said all they wanted was to be able to live in their homes peacefully, without fearing when they would become a target of the gangsters.
“The gangs are mostly youths in their 20s, have also approached youths in our area to join them. Refusal means facing their wrath,” he said.
Factory operator S. Mageswari, 33, claimed her 12-year-old son had been a target of the gangsters over the past three years.
“They want someone from my family to join them. Since my husband had died years ago, my only son has become their target.
“These people become more violent each day. They even attacked a school bus, with my son and other kids on board,” she said, adding that fortunately none of the children were hurt.
ACP Chee, assured the residents the state police would look into the reasons why the district police had failed to act against the gangs.
He also advised victims of the gang disturbances, who had not lodged reports with the police yet, to do so as soon as possible.
