Barricades outside Mamata Banerjee’s residence partially removed after poll defeat

PTI, May 5, 2026, Kolkata: Barricades outside Mamata Banerjee's residence that had been a permanent fixture on the Harish Chatterjee Street in South Kolkata for more than a decade were partially removed a day after her TMC lost power in the state and she was defeated in the Bhabanipur seat.

On Tuesday, police personnel were seen dismantling the blue-and-white guardrails that had restricted public access to the stretch near her residence on the street.

While no official notification was issued by Kolkata Police, an official of the force at a kiosk on the spot said they were instructed on Tuesday morning to remove the smart barricades.

He said no reasons have been cited for the removal. "We have followed up on the instruction from the higher authorities," the official said.

Though a police kiosk remains in place, the high-intensity security presence associated with the area has visibly diminished.

The area in Kalighat under the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency had been a high-security zone where entry of any vehicle was monitored.