Landlord refuses entry to mother, newborn for 5 hrs
Times of India | 18 February 2025
Jalpaiguri: A mother and her newborn were denied entry into their rented home for five hours on Monday, as the landlord deemed it inauspicious for her to enter while she was still in ‘osouch'—a period of perceived impurity following childbirth. The mother was forced to seek refuge on the staircase of a flood shelter until she was rescued by the police.The incident took place on Kalitala Road in Sen Para, Jalpaiguri.
On Friday, the expecting mother was admitted to Jalpaiguri Hospital, where she gave birth to a baby boy. On Monday afternoon, after being discharged, she returned home with her newborn but was denied entry by her landlord Dilip.
The police issued a warning to the landlord, instructing him not to harass the mother and her newborn."This is the last thing anyone would want to witness. It is inhumane. We have asked our local councillor to ensure the family's safety," said Jalpaiguri municipality vice-chairman, Saikat Chatterjee.