Chandigarh, Feb. 9 -- Congress party's councillor Gurpreet Singh Gabbi has alleged that the stretch of wild vegetation along South Road between Sectors 47 and 39 has turned into a refuge for criminals and a safe hideout for thieves, raising serious concerns over public safety and official inaction. He claimed that repeated incidents of theft clearly indicate a lack of effective monitoring by both the Chandigarh police and the forest department.

Speaking to the media, Gabbi alleged that stolen goods are being openly hidden in the forested belt, making it a convenient shelter for miscreants. Citing a recent incident, he said the doors of a public toilet in Sector 46-D were stolen. Following the theft, he personally inspected the adjoining ...