Shop owners harassed over Kali Puja donation, 3 held

Kolkata: Businesspersons were allegedly harassed at Natunbazar near Dum Dum cantonment for refusing donation as demanded by a local club for Kali Puja.

Locals alleged that the members of the club demanded Rs 40,000 from each shop owner, which was quite a big amount and they refused.

As revenge, local club members allegedly put cement and multipurpose sealant material on the locks of several shops. Dum Dum Police Station later arrested one person for extortion.

According to the local businesspersons, members of Rabindranagar Natun Bazar Social Welfare Society demanded Rs 40,000 from seven shop owners on Thursday. As the amount was very high, they refused. Some of the shop owners offered them Rs 3000 but the organisers refused to take that amount and left.

"I told them that I can give upto Rs 3,000 but refused to take it. On Friday morning, when I came to open my shop, I noticed the key hole of the shutter was sealed using cement and sealant material. Not only mine, several other owners were also targetted in the same manner," said Chandan Kundu, a shop owner. Other shop owners alleged that the club members pressurise them for donation every year.

Police personnel from Dum Dum Police Station went to the spot and noted all the shop owners' statements. A specific case was lodged on charges of extortion and three person were detained. The trio were arrested later. They will be produced before Barrackpore Court on Saturday.

"A specific case has been lodged and three persons have been arrested on charges of extortion. Nothing more can be said before a detailed investigation," said Ananda Roy, Deputy Commissioner (zone II) of

Barrackpore Police.