Kolkata: With barely three weeks left to Durga Puja, Kolkata Police has issued a warning against attempted extortion in the name of chanda by organisers. Police have urged citizens to immediately alert the authorities if they were pressured into paying money.Kolkata Police on Thursday shared a WhatsApp number and a 24×7 operational helpline number which could be used by harassed citizens to report such incidents. Both numbers are toll-free. “Forced to pay extortion money? Don’t stay silent. Report any incident of forced extortion or ‘chanda’ collection. One phone call from you can help stop coercive extortion. The Toll-Free number (24×7): 1800-345-5678, WhatsApp: 94326-24365. In case of any forcible collection of subscription/chanda, citizens may get in touch with the above numbers,” stated Kolkata Police on its social media platforms.Lalbazar officers said the numbers would be operational from the central Lalbazar control room.According to senior police officers, the helpline numbers were introduced on orders from the state govt that reportedly said not even one person should be harassed with extortion in the name of “chanda”. “While a couple of complaints have reached Bengal Police, the figure is almost an aberration given the number of pujas are held in Bengal. Still, we have been asked not to take things lightly. All commissionerates and district units have been asked to take measures. This is one such step by Kolkata Police. But we are yet to get any particular complaint of this nature,” said a senior Lalbazar officer.Lalbazar has instructed all police stations to especially ensure that no individual or organisation coerced traders, shopkeepers and businessmen into giving money for Durga Puja.Police commissioner Ajay Nanda on Wednesday, while attending a video conference, instructed officers at all police stations across Kolkata to deal firmly with any complaint of donation-related harassment ahead of the festive season. During the 40-minute meeting, attended by DCs, assistant commissioners and officers-in-charge, the commissioner said complaints of forced collection were coming in and that the state administration would not tolerate such intimidation. He ordered strict action in every case and called for immediate enforcement of a zero-tolerance policy. Nand also said that police stations must hold repeated coordination meetings with puja committees on festival preparations.“After a grand event at Eden Gardens on Oct 10, the day of Mahalaya, PM Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate five major puja celebrations in Kolkata, and officers have been told to remain alert about this,” Nand said. He also directed the setting up of kiosks for missing children at prominent pandals and that public awareness campaigns on cybercrimes, bank frauds and women’s helpline numbers be run there.
