Police have temporarily closed Prantik, the only cinema hall in Tehatta, Nadia, after repeated complaints of alleged indecent and antisocial activity on the premises. District police officials also seized the hall’s projector during an inspection, leaving local residents without one of the area’s few regular entertainment venues ahead of the festive season.
The cinema hall is located near Katakhal under Tehatta police station. According to the report published by Sangbad Pratidin, police had instructed the hall management several months ago to install night-vision cameras and take other security measures. Complaints, however, allegedly continued despite the warning.
Police sources said complaints had been arriving for some time about activities inside the hall, particularly during the afternoon. Some local residents alleged that young men and women gathered at the premises for indecent activities, which they believed was affecting the surrounding neighbourhood. The allegations have been reported as complaints and have not been presented as established criminal findings against any identified individual.
District police officials subsequently conducted an operation at the cinema hall. No one was arrested during the visit, but officers confiscated the projector and took it to the police station. The hall was also ordered to remain closed for a period while the reported security concerns are addressed.
The closure has created an immediate access issue for residents who depend on the venue for local entertainment. The hall is described as an important leisure option for government employees working in the area and for local residents, particularly on holidays. Its shutdown shortly before the puja season has disappointed regular moviegoers and people waiting to watch new releases.
Local resident Samir Biswas welcomed the administration’s intervention, saying that the reasons now being discussed behind the closure were unacceptable and that residents supported the police. He said the neighbourhood should retain a healthy and normal environment.
The incident also highlights the security obligations of small-town entertainment venues, where a single cinema hall may serve as a significant community amenity. In this case, police had already directed the management to introduce surveillance and other safeguards, according to the report. The temporary closure followed after complaints allegedly continued, making compliance with those measures central to any reopening.
The hall management has assured residents that it will carry out the required improvements and security arrangements in accordance with police instructions. It has also said it intends to reopen the cinema hall quickly after creating a safe and orderly environment for audiences. The report does not specify a reopening date or provide details of any formal criminal case arising from the inspection.
