In an incident that highlights the challenges residents face daily, Rajiv Kapoor’s daughter (resident of A-292, NFC) found herself in an untenable situation when a passerby parked their car in front of her gate, leaving her stranded and unable to leave her home. It was as if she and the entire family had been placed under house-arrest. Despite her pleas for assistance, local police dismissed her concerns, failing to respond effectively and leaving her feeling powerless. This alarming episode of inaction not only raised questions about community support but also emphasized the urgent need for law enforcement to prioritize citizen assistance in maintaining public order. In the words of Kapoor’s daughter, “….here’s what happened today – a rally was passing by my house. One representative parked his car outside my house gate making it absolutely impossible for me to leave any own house. Step one – I tried to locate this inconsiderate, mindless buffoon, who didn’t even as much as a leave a note with his number. Clearly he was entitled beyond his own conscious imagination……Half an hour later……Step 2 – I called Delhi traffic police. An emergency helpline number I could only get through after 10 mins…….Standard questions I was asked – have you tried to find the driver? – How long have you tried? – Be patient. People usually return. (Of course they do, I don’t think the man was a secret admirer dropping me a present) – Where do you have to go? (As though it’s any of their business)….Step 3- an hour later, receiving multiple phone calls from delhi police, as a concerned courtesy return of my multiple calls which went answered…..Here’s the real icing on the cake; this is my conversation with Mr. Police officer from the NFC police station-…. Who are you?….Husbands name? You are married? (How is that of any relevance is beyond me)…..Fathers name? (Ask my mother’s name too, take my cv and biodata to be eligible to request for a tow away)…..Whose house?…..- Why are you in father’s house and not husband’s house? (pardon my English but asshole it’s my house and again how is it your business Mr nosy officer). Suggestion from Mr. Nosy Police officer- I should be more careful and keep a watch on the traffic outside my house so people don’t park their car and disappear. Like I clearly don’t have a job, and not that I’ve heard the rhetoric of “watch what you wear as a woman, it’s your fault in this city/country if you’re attracting attention.” Now I must also be a watch guard outside my house…..Result – no crane arrives. No revert from the police after committing to send a crane. I remain hostage in my own house. Sneaky entitled man comes and drives away his car.
But as amusing (read as to my absolute bafflement) this story is I what reminded me, yet again, of my status as a woman in this country…..Will I be safe after writing this…..My status as married/unmarried determines how seriously I can be taken…..As a woman I don’t have a right to complain…..I have to justify to an unknown man, who has promised to serve me as citizen of this country – whose house I am in, and why…..And since I am a woman I can’t be in my own house? Is necessarily ought to be my fathers or husbands?…..Thank god gracious I had no emergency to attend to, I didn’t have to leave my house as the worst case scenario. Why should I have to think of this! My freedom, my right to movement had to be reclaimed and justified to people who have absolutely no ownership on my life, without as much as an apology but an anecdote – be grateful it wasn’t an emergency!…”.
