RESIDENTS of Wainibuku in Nakasi are pleading with authorities for urgent action to bring crime rates in the area under control.
Among the issues raised are the consumption of drugs and alcohol in public places, and the aggression displayed by youths as young as 15 years.
Terrorised members of communities in the area said they now feared for their safety.
Wainibuku Satsang Ramayan Mandali president Raj Kumar, 56, said unemployed young people and school dropouts were behind the problem.
“They sit down on the bus stops and smoke marijuana and drink beer,” Mr Kumar said.
“They make noise, yell and shout especially at night. During weekends this goes on until four in the morning.
“They rob people who walk on the road and throw stones on the houses.
“People are so afraid to walk on the road at night because of these drunk youths.”
He said complaints had been made to the police.
“When the police come to patrol, they hide and come back when they are gone.
“Police have arrested some youths, but these youths are not afraid. They come back and do it again.”
Mr Raj said some of the boys were as young as 15 years.
“Some of them are from our area but most of them are new faces.”
Prakash Wati, 73, said these incidents happened at night.
“Women and girls are very afraid to go out at night,” she said.
“I have been staying here for more than 30 years and this area wasn’t like this before. It has become worse.”
She said some houses were broken into during the day when families were out shopping.
“People here don’t say anything because they are afraid of these youths. We want the government to do something to stop this so we can live peacefully.”
Lay preacher Nasoni Rokobiau said the Veitalevi Methodist Church in Wainibuku was working with community elders and police to address the problem.
“We have involved police as we’ve been told this area been declared as a red zone.
“We are trying our best to encourage parents to stop their children from getting involved in illegal activities.”
