AGARTALA, Sep 15 (TIWN): Puja donation threats by various Clubs driving the common people to misery as forced ‘Chanda”(donation) collection rampant in capital Agartala and surrounding areas during Sept / Oct months every year. Tripura Police although circulated various rules throughout the state, but the club members never go by these rules. Unruly club members continue their forceful activities in the Puja month and dominate respective localities as their forefathers’ property. Puja ‘Chanda’ demands have no bounds as its being raised from 3000/, 4000/ 10000/ and more every year. Eventhe persons who live on rent are forced to give the donation atleast half of the amount of the house owners gives. ‘Chanda’ seekers come like a gang and shout like rowdies, saying ‘it’s their area’. Surprisingly, Govt. yet to bring any limitation to the Puja Budget failing Puja Budget touching Rs. 50 lakhs and up. Talking to TIWN, SP West Abhijit Saptarshi on Wednesday said, ‘Nobody can violate the Puja Donation rules, if anyone do extreme demanding puja donation then legal action taken against them. But let us know immediately if puja donation is asked forcefully’.

Tripura Police has laid out 21 points/rules, which need to followed by each & every clubs:

1. For organizing any Puja police permission is must,
2. Puja places need to followed as per permission,
3. Police should get each and every details about Puja Committee Prsident, Secretary and members,
4. Serial number must be maintained by the Clubs,
5. Each and every receipts should have the registered number, which was given by Police,
6. The donation which has taken need to be clearly written in number and also in words in each and every pages,
7. If from any business organization, market they collect the money then it must be in between 10 AM to 1 PM. There will be not more than 2 persons who would come to collect the donation. From homes the donation collection time will be 7 to 9 AM, and 5 to 6 PM,
8. The president, secretary’s signature must be clearly there in the receipts, without signature collecting donation will be illegal,
9. From roads, passengers, conductors nobody can seek donation. No way any vehicle can be stopped in the name of donation,
10. If any allegation proves true, then legal action will be taken against the Puja Committee President, Secretary and the donation collectors. If the club members byforce want to take donation, their puja will be stopped for the year,
11. No Puja can be organized on the road,
12. Electricity line, telephone lines should be kept in distant from the Puja Pandle,
13. No barricade can be created on road,
14. No crowd should be created on road,
15. If any club is interested to organize cultural programmes, then from police station the permission need to be taken,
16. No crackers, chocolate-bomb would be used during puja,
17. As per High Court notice the music system would be played,
18. To join in Bisarjanprogarmme permission need to be taken & in directed place only Bisarjan will be held.
19. If any club wants to delay the Bisarjan, for that also it needs permission,
20. Identity card and volunteers must be there to control the crowd,
21. To maintain the peace of the programme-------- is social organization members, common people would cooperate with the club members and Police.