Kolkata: On his way to his duty spot yesterday, Sergeant Palash Chakraborty of South East Traffic Guard was crossing Dhakuria flyover on his motorbike, when he came upon a lady standing in the middle of the road, picking up and throwing around the traffic cones placed on the flyover as road traffic dividers. Clearly agitated, she was also pelting passing vehicles with pebbles and bits of garbage.
Sgt Chakraborty got off his bike, went up to the lady, and spoke to her gently, realizing she was obviously mentally disturbed. She told him that she lived on the streets, and was upset because people would snatch her belongings, even her shawl, forcing her to spend nights in the cold and that they would throw various objects at her.
Sgt Chakraborty got her to calm down and asked if she was hungry, even offering her his lunch, which she refused. He then asked her to accompany him to a shop from where he could buy her warm clothes and a blanket, but she refused that too. So he gave her some money and asked her to buy food and warm clothes instead. Habituated to cruelty and harsh treatment, she finally responded to his kindness, hugging him and breaking down in tears. Having removed her to safety, Sgt Chakraborty has promised to go back to her with his gift of a blanket.
Our, Reporter in Chief
R. Manoj Kumar Sharma
Siliguri City, West Bengal
