We've lived in this flat for over 17 years without any problem. The security system has been non-exitent, but somehow everyone felt recklessly safe. Two weeks ago, a posse of police personnel arrived with some friendly advice about safety in flats and what we should be doing. A days later, there's this 20 something youngster who began prowling around our flat. He's been opening securely closed windows to survey the house in the glow of night lamp when everyone's asleep. He is well dressed and speaks well in English. Claims to be a student of a local engineering college. He hangs around on the dark deck and suddenly shows up at the door to ask for water. When confronted, he says he's looking for a friend who's supposed to live in the same flat. He does not go away when told no such person lives here. He comes back the next day.
We lost patience yesterday after some five days of this and cornered him on the deck. Made him wait there and called the police. He remained unperturbed. The police also quite brusquely took down our details and took the youngman away....
This incident has been troubling me. We've handed over a seemingly educated but in many ways a 'clever' guy to the police. The police have not reported to us about his fate. Knowing how the law works, perceived threat is no ground for punishment. So far, he has not done anything. Having handed him over, I do not feel any safer or freer. Has he lost liberty and freedom in jail and do we have freedom and liberty outside? His presence somewhere in an unknown way has changed our existence... I feel there's more to this story, somewhere down the line...
