Illegal influx into Kolkata ?

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Who are these people sleeping on the footpath at Rabindra Sarani, a stone's throw away from Kolkata police headquarters in Lalbazar? Where have they come from and why are they there?

ANM News spotted several others like them on India Exchange place, on footpaths alongside Tea Board and areas around central Kolkata. We spoke to a few of them and they mentioned that they are displaced refugees. From where? They did not have any answer.

How do they spend their day and earn money to eat? ``We beg and somehow survive,'' was their reply. Local residents mentioned to ANM News that of late there has been an increase in illegal influx of these people and they are occupying footpaths and staying off alms. ``They dirty the place as they do all their nature's call in the area,'' S Saha, a local of Rabindra Sarani said.

The state vagrancy department which is supposed to keep a check and look after the people living off the streets have become almost non functional with none of the officials available to speak on the issue. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation pleaded helplessness in this regard.