Festival barricades: Senior citizens take 1km detour to reach home in Kolkata
Times of India | 3 November 2024
An elderly couple was forced to walk nearly 1 km to reach home. Despite complaints, police insisted on maintaining restrictions for law and order, suggesting residents carry identity cards or passes. KOLKATA: An elderly woman and her ailing husband were unable to gain entry to their home and were stranded at a checkpoint less than 200m away as cops deployed at barricaded roads refused to budge.
The couple finally had to make a detour of nearly 1 km on foot before crossing barricades to return home.
The couple's plight is not uncommon in Barasat, where residents face significant difficulties as police-installed bamboo barricades and guard rails block nearly all roads and lanes during Kali Puja, which is celebrated with much fanfare. The situation is particularly taxing for senior citizens and families with kids.
At Colony More on Friday evening, Banashree Chakrabarty and her unwell spouse were unable to gain entry despite pointing out that their house was less than 1 km away. "Cops stationed at the point refused to show an alternative route. They only said they were ordered to do so," said a Chakrabarty.
The four-day Kali Puja celebration in Barasat, located 28 km from Kolkata, features approximately 15 major pujas. Two national highways intersect at Duckbanglow More, where authorities restrict vehicular movement. The festivities attract thousands, with crowds gathering from late afternoon until dawn.
"The police administration put bamboo barricades on every possible entry point in and around the town. Police personnel keep vigil at the points. They have no aptitude or mechanism to differentiate between the visitors and residents. Visitors stand in the queue, but residents face the acute problem of approaching their houses," said Abhranil Mukherjee from Nabapally.
Tinku Poddar, another local, said: "Last night, I had to leave my vehicle outside a barricade overnight before entering home."
Pratiksha Jharkhariya, SP Barasat police district, responded: "I have nothing to do with this. I am here to maintain law and order. Residents should show their identity cards or collect residents' passes to enter their residence."