People facing hardships due to Assam Police battalion roadblock

Special Correspondent

SILCHAR: The road that the people of Ambicapore and Bhaijyantipur GP have been using for their regular movement for the last 59 years has suddenly been blocked by the 6th Assam Police Bn located at Kathal Road on the southern fringe of this town without any plausible ground. Around 15 thousand inhabitants of the backward area have been put in extreme difficulties. This arbitrary decision and directive of the Commandant of the force has created tension in the otherwise peaceful area.Biplob Kumar Goswami, general secretary of Grahak Suraksha Samiti, on receiving the public complaint, visited Kathal road to take stock of the prevailing situation.

He did find veracity of the allegations. It is not only the people of the GP but also of interior villages who have been greatly inconvenienced. Of course the road in question and at the centre of controversy passes through the premises of the battalion, disturbing their peace and tranquillity. It is also true the volume of people and traffic movement has increased. But, for that, the inhabitants should not be put in trouble, pointed out Goswami. People have been using the road for their everyday needs of attending office or work place, court, marketing, purchase of medicines, visit to primary health centre and other various miscellaneous purposes.

This is the passage taken by students to attend their educational institutions. With the closure of the road, villagers have to make long detour. Earlier, the time taken to come towards the town area from the villages was hardly 10 to 15 minutes. Now, it takes one and half hour. Villagers are in a fix to understand how a sick patient can be taken to hospital or nursing home as no ambulance or vehicle can make its way to reach the village and return. In the event of break out of fire, how can the disaster be met?

A few days back, the house of Mantu Das of the area caught fire and was reduced to ashes as no fire brigade could be on the spot. Hira Lal Das, another resident, fell sick. Call was made to 108, but it too could not reach and the condition of Das became critical and he died. It is not only the people of two GPs but also of Rengti basti, Meruah and Boiljurmukh who have also to suffer. Never in the past, as the people in general said they have received such treatment. Their relations with the battalion have always been cordial. GSS has drawn the attention of MLA Dilip Kumar Paul for his intervention. The latest information is that under public pressure, the Bn commandant has allowed restricted movement of people only.

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