By IANS
New Delhi : You may have watched a gang of young rouge bikers creating ruckus on the roads in Hollywood or Bollywood films, but here the plot was real when over 100 bikers zipped through the roads and lanes of Connaught Place at dangerous speed to have fun at the cost of others.
"Almost every Saturday night the roads, well maintained and wide, in and around Connaught Place are turned into racetracks by these young racers, most of who come from west Delhi to offer prayers at Gurudwara Bangla Sahib," a senior police official said.
On Monday, the celluloid-style drama began around midnight when the youths, all from affluent families, rode swanky bikes and unleashed a spell of terror in the Connaught Place and Mandir Marg area of downtown New Delhi. They also had police chasing them for hours.
According to an eyewitness, they were riding, wheeling and manoeuvering their bikes like stuntmen or action stars.
"They were something around 150 and were riding all types of bikes. It seemed that they were simply let loose on the city roads, who have no fear for their lives and as well of others," the eyewitness told IANS on the condition of anonymity as he did not wish to be targeted by these bikers or their families.
The youths, all from west Delhi, had come to the Jain Dhaba eatery, close to Connaught Place police station, at around 3 a.m. after attending the Gurudwara Banglasaheb Gurupurab celebrations nearby.
Police official said besides harassing and abusing families gathered at restaurants nearby, some of these youths even steal from strollers. They didn't stop there and roughed up the dhaba owner black and blue after he refused as he had closed shop.
The dhaba (local eatery) owner had to be hospitalised due to the severe beating he was given.
"After harassing people and beating the dhaba owner they quickly sped off to Gole Dak Khana (GPO) area to assemble with their waiting friends. This was the time when we received information," the official said.
He said the entire area was cordoned off and over 15 police control room (PCR) vans were deployed to nab them.
When police went to arrest them, the youths hurled stones at them and damaged several police cars, including that of the Additional Deputy Commissioner Police (New Delhi), Deputy Commissioner of Police (PM Security) and station house officer (Connaught Place).
A reporter from a private news channel was also roughed up and his camera snatched by the youths.
"They also pelted stones at the police control room (PCR) vans assisting in the operations. We managed to arrest them after chasing them for over two hours. A total of 15 PCR vans were involved in the operation," he added.
He said that a city court had remanded them to 14-days judicial custody.
A case of rioting and robbery has been registered against the youths at the Mandir Marg and Connaught Place police stations.
Police have impounded their motorbikes, many of them fitted with nitro-cylinders and other fancy gadgetry.