Chandan Kumar and Soni Priya (both names changed) have been able to spot and settle down at a cozy space in an otherwise crowded Sido Kanhu Park beside CM residence in the city on this lazy Saturday afternoon. The boy (19) is a daily wage labourer at a construction site in Argora Chowk and the girl (17) is a Higher Secondary School student from a nearby village.
Apparently, Soni Priya comes from school on every Saturday and travels for about 45 km just to meet her lover here. “We do not have enough money to go and have food at big hotels or have coffee at Café Coffee Day. So, chilling here for few hours after travelling so far seems like a more convenient option. We often discuss our family problems and the future here together. We feel like getting intimate too when we see other couples romancing each other. But, we always have to be in a hurry as time and the right opportunity to romance is very important when doing so in a public park,” said Soni.
Chandan shyly said this was the only time they both have together and that seemed to be the cue to leave the couple alone. Meanwhile, few security guards roaming around in their uniforms and whistle and stick in hand seem to be quite comfortable with the scenario here and also keep emerging and disappearing behind the bushes. Moreover, such couples seem to be occupying every nook and corner the so-called safe zones at walled parks such as Nakshatra Van,
Tagore Hill Rock Garden, just to name a few. In the beautiful city and during the winters, when the schools are going into the winter breaks and soon children would want to be taken out on holidays, the situation looks dim for families even this year as much as every year. Though lovers might advocate for their rights to roam around freely and to love peacefully even shamelessly in the public places, families and the authorities in the city seem to be an offended lot.
“Winters are the best time for jogging, taking a stroll or just basking in the sun at public parks with our children. Every year, all the year round, we are left with almost no or less options for such day picnics because of these indecent youngsters who come here and indulge in such obscene activities. last year, we saw a couple almost naked in Sidhu Kanhu and it was us who felt embarrassed and not them, I guess. The authorities seem to have turned a permanent blind eye to this notorious situation that has painted a dirty picture of our city,” said Meenakshi Poddar, a homemaker and resident from Kanke Road.
Moreover, the Municipal Corporation officials also seem to be quite disappointed in the situation and failing to control the same. “What can be done at these walled parksIJ We have tried to drive away such young couples and asked them not to indulge in such activities but in vain. They keep coming back and in spite of security guards and others present in the park, choose to enter such parks and get involved in such things at their will. The situation is really unfortunate and we would urge families to visit see-through parks such as the Ram Dayal Munda Park in Morhabadi instead. This is just unfortunate,” said Ranchi Mayor Asha lakra,.
Similarly, Sanjeev Vijaywargia, Deputy Mayor reiterated the same fact stressing upon the need for some drives, campaigns to create awareness among young couples in the future. “Though, we do not have any plans for a campaign or any such things as of now but we would soon want to do something to curb this menace. We are also sick of receiving such complaints and feel embarrassed about the situation here. But, we will definitely take some action in the future,” said Vijaywargia. However, as there is not much awareness among police officials even as to what can be termed as ‘indecent behaviour in public’ and the punishment involved in such acts, these young couples can only be driven away or harassed by the moral policing groups.
“I don’t think there is any such law that states that one can be punished for indecent behaviour. Hence, we cannot take any action and often blamed for taking strict action against such youngsters,” said Sudarshan Astik, City Assistant Superintendent of Police.