A busy neighborhood near the railway track of DumDum station, the disturbing site of a decreased man hanging for a tree left the onlookers shocked. Despite removing the dead body the cops from two police stations allegedly squabbled for more than three hours over who would remove the body.

The incident

The incident began when 26-year-old man, Prasanta Saha’s body was discovered near the railway tracks, an area traditionally fraught with jurisdictional obliquity. As word spread, both the local Sinthi police and the GRP arrived at the scene, only to engage in a protracted argument over whose responsibility it was to handle the situation.

A senior railway police official explained that according to railway regulations, only 10 meters on either side of the railway tracks fall under railway police jurisdiction. Anything beyond this 10-metre boundary is the responsibility of the local police station, he said.

Another railway official noted their jurisdiction was clearly marked with milestones, insisting there is no confusion.

This bureaucratic impasse resulted in a distressing delay, with Saha’s body remaining suspended while the two agencies engaged in a verbal tug-of-war. This persisted for over three hours, the scene became a focal point of public anxiety, with bystanders expressing their dismay at the apparent lack of urgency and compassion. 

Eventually, after a long period of discussion and negotiation, officers from the Sinthi police station took charge and removed Saha’s body. The resolution, however, did little to assure the public’s concerns about the inefficiencies and lack of coordination between the two law enforcement agencies.

Public reaction

The incident has sparked widespread criticism, highlighting the need for clearer jurisdictional guidelines and improved communication protocols between the Kolkata Police and the GRP. Residents are demanding accountability and assurances that such a distressing incident will not be repeated.