Bolting of people inside homes: IG seeks report

Upadhyaya denied any police excess but said he had asked for the report. When told that the residents had alleged that they remained bolted inside their homes for over 10 minutes, he said, “Their statements can’t be gospel truth. You should believe us too.”

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The police began clearing the area before the arrival of the UT Administrator, who was scheduled to inaugurate the 24×7 water supply scheme. But taking extreme measures, the police personnel bolted residents of nearly 12 houses in a lane leading to the inauguration site.

Alok Kumar, one of the residents who was prevented from stepping out, said he spent more than 10 minutes bolted inside his own home, and it made him and the others who had suffered a similar fate feel “like criminals”.

He added that it was not the police who let them out; neighbours came to their rescue, and unbolted their doors. Few houses were unbolted by the BJP workers who had gathered there for the function.

Chand Kumar, an autorickshaw driver in the area, said that the police bolted women and small children inside their homes just to secure the area before the UT Administrator’s arrival. He termed the police action “unacceptable”. He was not present, but his wife along with their children were bolted inside by the police. “My wife told me that the children were crying to be let out,” Kumar said.

Tara Devi, a senior citizen, asked what wrong she and the others had committed. “Police did not spare even small children while bolting us inside,” she said.

BJP’s local president Sanjay Tandon said that no such incident had been brought to his notice. “When I arrived there, residents of the area were all cheerful and it was a well-attended programme. Even Governor was excited to see such a large crowd in all corners. Starting 24-hour water supply from a colony area was a historic step in making Chandigarh a smart city,” he said.

Congress city president Pardeep Chhabra, however, criticised the police action. He said the way the residents were bolted inside their houses by the police was inhuman and against all norms of the civilised society. He said that though they understand concerns about the Governor’s security, bolting people inside their homes was not right.