Rampant lawlessness spooks residents along E M Bypass
Times of India | 1 August 2024
12 Kolkata: Unabated lawlessness in the bar zone along the E M Bypass stretch between VIP Bazar and Tagore Park — which has about six bars operating till late night — has started spooking the residents of Netaji Subhas Nagar Colony.
On Wednesday, TOI visited the residential area in the bar zone and found the locals, especially elderly people and women, in a state of shock.They avoid stepping out of their houses after sunset as they fear that the miscreants might return.
“This time they (the miscreants) went on a rampage inside the bar and vandalized the cars parked outside. Is there any guarantee that they will not invade the area again and resort to bombing or shooting? I am worried after this incident as I have to return home late when I get night shifts,” said Sandip Sanyal, a private hospital employee.
Debi Senapati, an elderly living in a building next to the bar where the brawl had taken place, recounted: “I was sleeping and suddenly I woke up to a commotion outside. As I looked outside the window, I saw some people were vandalizing cars and bikes. I panicked and closed the window. Such vandalism should not happen in a residential area and the authorities should take action for our safety.”
A section of residents reportedly submitted a mass petition in Anandapur police station on Wednesday, urging for the closure of the bar. Homemaker Ashalata Sahu said: “We have been living here for 13 years. We had raised objections when bars sprung up in the residential area. But the administration had not paid any heed back then. We cannot take a stroll down the road late in the evening or at night, thanks to the nuisance in and around the bars.”
Ashalata’s kin Bandana Sahu added: “We cannot sleep at night because of the loud music at bars. We are too scared to protest. The administration needs to stop the lawlessness.”
Sk Shabbir, who runs a furniture shop close to a bar, said: “The vandalism shocked us. I have kept my shop open but am ready to close down the shutter if any fresh trouble breaks out.”