Siliguri, 05th November: Tension erupted in the Rishi Aurobindo Road area, near the Bidhan Market in Ward 12 of Siliguri, over the forced sale of Kali Puja lottery tickets and collection of donations.
According to reports, on Tuesday, members of a local club arrived in the Bidhan Market area to distribute Kali Puja lottery tickets. They allegedly forced the shopkeepers to purchase the tickets. Upon refusing to do so, the shopkeepers were subjected to verbal abuse and harassment. The situation quickly escalated into a physical confrontation between the traders and the club members.
In response, the shopkeepers closed their stores and protested. Later, members from several other local clubs arrived at the scene and contributed to the conflict. Meanwhile, police from the Panitanki Outpost and Siliguri Police Station arrived on the scene to control the situation and advised the shopkeepers to reopen their businesses.
The traders stated that various clubs in the city have been pressuring them to buy lottery tickets, even though they already contribute donations through the local business association. They complained that instead of collecting donations through the association, club members are directly going door-to-door to force businesses to purchase tickets.
Meanwhile, members of the local clubs clarified that only one club in the city receives donations, which is why other clubs are compelled to distribute lottery tickets.
We ppl r so docile & submissive thats why every one take advantage in every time from us. All business men & common ppls should resist & protest injustice done to us