Kolkata: Access to the Millennium Park on the Hooghly riverfront in Kolkata was closed indefinitely by police on Friday afternoon, citing security reasons, with the chief electoral officer’s office located opposite the park at the Shipping Corporation of India building.Scores of visitors were turned away on Friday evening as police cited prohibitory orders. A section of Strand Road and a portion of Hare Street were also closed to traffic. Kolkata Police earlier informed the CEO’s office that Millennium Park was closed indefinitely to ensure security. The shipping jetty was also closed till afternoon but resumed operations in the evening. Many office-goers in BBD Bag use the jetty to avail of the ferry service to reach Howrah Station.The CEO’s office shifted from the Balmer Lawrie building in Dalhousie to SCI on Strand Road on March 22. A day later, police issued a prohibitory order around the building, but it failed to rein in protests and agitations by BLOs and various parties. There were clashes between BLOs backed by TMC and BJP supporters outside the building. A major clash took place between Trinamool and BJP on March 31 over Form 6 submissions. Police and central forces controlled the situation, but it led to heightened anxiety among officers in charge of security at the CEO’s office.A fresh order was issued on April 1, curbing assembly of people till the opposite pavement adjoining Millennium Park. Police commissioner Ajay Nand cited intelligence reports on violent demonstrations that could lead to breach of peace to impose Section 163 under the BNS. “We did not shut Millenium park. But as its entrance falls exactly opposite the CEO office, we had to take action,” said a joint CP.Pranati Mukherjee, who came to visit the city from Asansol was disappointed at being denied entry and proceeded to Prinsep Ghat instead.Tathagata Majumder from Kasba, who came with a group of children, questioned why children had to suffer for elections. Minati Laha, who brought her 80-year-old mother from Birati, said she planned to spend the evening at the park before proceeding to Babughat to watch the arati post dusk, but the closure disrupted the plan.Moul Chatterjee, a third year student at St Xavier’s College, said: “This is disgusting. They won’t even say when the park will reopen.”(With inputs from Kaushik Pradhan & Dwaipayan Ghosh)
