MUMBAI: The roads and lanes of the Fort precinct, Marine Drive and Masjid Bunder have become a haven for drug addicts, who are a tribe that even cops tend to avoid confronting. The presence of junkies on footpaths and bus stops prompts people, especially women, to avoid those areas or pass by hurriedly.

Last month, a drug addict was seen assaulting a constable near the gates of Anjuman Islam school. “These are desperate men who will do anything to get their daily fix. Police often allow them to be lest they slash them with a blade or jab an infected needle,” says a photographer who witnessed the incident. Clusters of addicts prowl areas like Ballard Estate, whose workforce empties out in the evening, and accost passersby for money and valuables.

Residents of Marine Drive who park their cars outside often find stereo systems missing. Chain snatching is rampant. Suman Gurwara’s car was stolen from the lane near the flyover where additional municipal commissioner Mohan Adtani was robbed of his phone. “I’m afraid to send my child out alone. Drug addicts lurk around and snatch whatever is in your hands,” she said.

The expatriate population is seen as a vulnerable target. A large population of foreigners not only lives and works in south Mumbai but loves to tour its heritage buildings and photograph them. Foreign students study at the Mumbai University , browse bookstores or take the train from Churchgate and CST railway stations.

DCP Ravindra Shisve of Zone I said cops have been conducting an ongoing drive against drug addicts. “Going by the dynamic nature of the business district, the crime rate is low. We had 30 cases of chain-snatching in 2013 compared to other zones which had 300-400. We have sanitized large parts of Azad Maidan and Oval Maidan of junkies. Dongri, which used to be the favourite haunt of Nigerian peddlers and conduits, is largely free of them. “I assure citizens we will intensify this drive.”

