Siliguri, 09th July: Uncertainty looms over the future of the 46-year-old Durga Puja organised by the women-run Jyotirmoy Athletic Club in Ward No. 02 of Siliguri after construction work began on the vacant plot where the puja has been held for decades.
According to the puja committee, the club has been organising Durga Puja for the past 46 years on a vacant plot on Dhup Company Road in the Pradhan Nagar area. However, after a promoter recently began construction on the land, concerns have arisen over whether the puja can continue to be held at the same venue.
Committee members alleged that when construction work started, they held discussions with the promoter and were assured that adequate space would be reserved for the annual Durga Puja. However, in 2026, they were allegedly informed that no space could be provided for the festival.
The committee further alleged that when members went to put up banners as part of the puja preparations, the promoter filed a complaint against eight committee members at Pradhan Nagar Police Station.
Former Ward No. 03 councillor Ram Bhajan Mahato and former Ward No. 02 councillor Gargi Chatterjee also held discussions with the promoter regarding the matter. According to the committee, they had assured them that there would be no difficulty in organising the Durga Puja in the future. A committee member also alleged that the under-construction building had been built illegally and accused Ram Bhajan Mahato of facilitating the alleged illegal construction.
Reacting to the issue, BJP Ward No. 01 Mandal president Binod Gupta said he was shocked to learn about the incident involving the women of the ward and appealed to the government to conduct a fair and impartial investigation.
Meanwhile, former Ward No. 03 councillor Ram Bhajan Mahato said discussions had already been held regarding the matter and that he was looking into it. Denying the allegations against him, he said he had not been involved in any such activity and expressed hope that the Durga Puja would be organised without any hindrance.