Riot wave in Botoșani, after a young Olympian was put in the hospital by a gang of hoodlums. People are outraged and demand the resignation of the Chief of Police, especially after the hallucinatory way in which he commented on the situation even at a meeting with the prefect.
A gang of teenagers terrorized the locals in the Central Market area PHOTO botosaninews
Botoşani is seething after an outrageous incident. A young Olympian from the municipality of Botoșani was savagely beaten, four days ago, by a group of teenage thugs, in the Central Square area, near the Historical Center of the city. The 18-year-old boy arrived at the hospital disfigured and needs a surgical intervention. The incident, which was heavily publicized, especially on social networks, by the victim’s father, a businessman from Botošan, sparked a wave of revolt among the population. Locals gathered a “storm” on social networks that is intensifying from one day to the next, coagulating absolutely all social categories. People demand concrete and immediate measures from the authorities. In addition, I demand the resignation of the head of IPJ Botoșani, especially after his controversial statements in the case of the Olympian caught in a fight.
Olympic athlete from Botosan put in the hospital by a gang of Roma
The incident took place on the night of August 31 to September 1, in the Pietonalul Transilvaniei area, a transitional artery between the Central Square and the Historic Center of the Botoșani municipality. Two young men were returning home. including the 18-year-old son of the Botošan businessman, Florin Alexuc. The young man is a national Olympian in public debate and is considered a model teenager, quiet and very good at learning. The two boys were approached by a group of children and teenagers. After an exchange of words, the gang cornered the two boys. One managed to escape, while the Olympian from Botosan fell under the rain of punches. After striking, the aggressors fled. The young Olympian actually arrived at the hospital disfigured, and the incident was reported to the Police. Law enforcement officials say 16 children and teenagers, aged between 13 and 16, were involved.
11 of them have been identified. Three have the status of suspect, having already been heard since Wednesday at the DGASPC, according to the procedure for working with minors. On September 12, they will be taken to the IML to determine the diagnosis. The parents of those identified received fines of 5,000 lei for not supervising the children. Culmea, two days after the incident, the same gang was walking unhindered, also on the Transilvaniei Pietonal. Then they were caught by the police.
“Investigations have been launched into the commission of the crime of hitting or other violence, with specific activities being carried out to accurately establish the circumstances of the commission of the acts, to identify the persons responsible for it and to hold them criminally liable according to their guilt. As part of the permanent activities carried out by the police, on the night of September 2 to 3 this year, in the Transylvania Pedestrian area, 12 minors, aged between 11 and 16 years, were identified, establishing that they are the same persons present in the area that night in which the victim was assaulted. Later, it was established that three of them, between the ages of 16 and 15, allegedly assaulted the 18-year-old on the night of August 31 to September 1.”it is stated in the press release of IPJ Botoșani.
Wave of revolt in Botoșani.
The incident caused a wave of outrage, especially on social networks. People imperatively demand the authorities to put order in the Historic Center and to ensure peace on the streets at night. And this despite the fact that several people complain that they have been assaulted, in the area of the Central Market and the Historic Center. Many incidents were not reported either for fear of the consequences, being a small town, or out of mistrust, convinced that nothing would be solved, possibly fines that no one would pay. The parents of the victims launched a call for civic solidarity. “No matter who was in my son’s place, he didn’t deserve to be humiliated like this! And I want to emphasize one more thing, I don’t think my son is the only one who suffered this, I think there are many others, but out of fear they accepted the humiliation and didn’t have the courage to make their story public. Let’s move the civic spirit, let’s make public the stories hidden for different reasons. Only through the power of public opinion can we stop this developing criminal activity,” said Florin Alexuc, the father of the assaulted boy, on social networks.
Many people from Botošan actually filled the pages of social networks with negative experiences lived in the mentioned areas, especially after dark. “There have always been problems in that area, the Pedagogical High School, Industrial 2 and the street that goes to Eltrans and Centrul Vechi.“, Daniel confesses on social networks. “The old center is full of thieves, drunks and drug addicts, stinkers who have never worked and are not working. The big square is full of people from the Old Center and the Youth Park emptying people’s pockets and bags. Unfortunately, these people create big problems for the residents of this city“, says Pintilie, another Botošan resident. There are hundreds of messages. Some are directed against the Roma community in the area of the Historical Center and the Youth Park, others against all those in conflict with the law, regardless of ethnicity.
Head of IPJ Botoșani: “A young man, whoever he is, sleeps at 1 a.m.”
The climax, while Botoșani residents were “boiling” with revolt on social networks, the head of IPJ Botoșani, commissioner Tudor Costîn, gave a hallucinatory statement. “A young man, whoever he is, sleeps at one o’clock in the morning. Another category of young people with criminal concerns does not sleep. We have to see why a young man who was supposed to sleep at one o’clock in the morning, did not sleep at one o’clock in the morning. Because there is still, in my opinion, a substrate so to speak, either it was at a party, or it was at training, on the guitar, on the mandolin, whatever it was“, he specified. The reaction of public opinion was immediate.
And at the moment, even if he officially apologized, the people of Botošan are demanding the resignation of the head of the IPJ. Both for the controversial statement but also for the way safety is ensured on the city’s streets. “Resignation! Recently, the public safety situation in Botoșani seems to be deteriorating more and more. Although theoretically it is allowed to go out at any time of the day or night, in reality, the lack of effective action on the part of the Romanian Police makes the streets increasingly unsafe. Neighborhood gangs are making their presence felt in various areas, and the insecurity felt by citizens is constantly increasing. People avoid certain places or times for fear of incidents, feeling abandoned by the authorities. In this context, the lack of safety becomes an alarming problem and the police must take more effective measures!“, states Eduard, on social networks.
At the same time, people launched a wave of criticism on the Local Police. The climax, in full scandal, this week, was posted on Tik-Tok, a clip, in which a group of teenagers mimed aggressive gestures to a song that incited violence. “I represent the Old Center and all the streets. We gather the whole brigade and take your days”is only one verse. Currently the Police categorize it as an “artistic act”. All this time, the citizens insistently ask the authorities to take concrete measures, especially in the Historical Center and the Youth Park. Especially in the Historic Center, which should be a tourist, promenade area.
“Cris is not alone! We are all Cris”
On social networks, the incident gave birth to an unprecedented solidarity in Botoșani. Even Mirela Sănduleanu, the director of the Pedagogical High School, where the beaten student studies, took a stand. “Cris not alone! We are all Cris! The Pedagogical High School is Cris! The Botošan school is Cris! And Cris’s family is the one who had the courage to speak, to ask, to look for answers and to point the finger! Not just for Cris, for all of us! And finally, let’s not forget that education makes a big difference! Tolerance, respect, common sense and common sense! Otherwise, it’s just a failure of education, of the law, of the family, of the family, of us!“, states the director from Botošan.
There are Boto residents who have proposed organizing a protest march at the beginning of the school year, asking the authorities to take tough measures against criminals and rid the city of those who cause trouble in hot spots. Huge sums have been invested in the Historic Center to transform it into a tourist area. Especially since it is one of the best-preserved 19th-century urban complexes in Romania, a Leipzig in miniature. For several decades, however, it has been a real neighborhood with social housing. Many city councilors have pledged to transform the area, but to date, no notable progress has been made.
