An 80-year-old neighbor allegedly locked up a family with an autistic boy in their flat in Indirapuram last Saturday. The neighbor was annoyed with the boy’s behavior of randomly ringing doorbells, pressing elevator buttons, and throwing doormats and shoes. The boy’s father took to Twitter to accuse the neighbor and other residents of being insensitive. He expressed his frustration with confining his son to the flat all day and explained that the corridor was the boy’s only play area as he was afraid to go to the park due to teasing from other children.
The octogenarian neighbor, who claimed to have a heart condition, lived on the seventh floor, while the family lived on the second floor of the same tower. The neighbor complained that the boy created a nuisance every day by ringing doorbells, throwing objects, and randomly pressing elevator buttons. He mentioned instances where he got stuck in the elevator because of the boy’s actions. Frustrated by the complaints from other residents, the neighbor locked the family’s flat door on Saturday, resulting in a heated exchange with the boy’s grandmother.
Swapnil, the boy’s father, explained that his son used to play in the park but developed a phobia due to teasing from other kids. He emphasized that people should understand the reasons behind the behavior of children with autism. The incident was brought to the attention of the society’s Resident Welfare Association (RWA), and the door was eventually opened. The estate manager of the society acknowledged the child’s condition but expressed concern about his behavior potentially causing harm.
Swapnil stated that his son has a fascination with elevators and likes to observe them going up and down. While they try to supervise him, there are times when he sneaks out and plays in the corridor. He mentioned that their counseling sessions for the child had become irregular due to the pandemic.
Experts pointed out the lack of awareness and understanding about disabilities as a contributing factor to such conflicts. They emphasized the need for society to be patient with children with autism and to actively include them in mainstream activities.
