Agartala, Sep 07: A heated dispute has erupted between Durga Puja organizers in Kumarghat and a section of truck drivers from Churaibari in North Tripura over the collection of donations for the festival. While some drivers have accused the organizers of extortion and protested by blocking the national highway, the organizers held a press conference in Kumarghat denying the allegations, calling them “false propaganda.”
The controversy began when truck drivers at the state’s entry point in Churaibari blocked the highway, citing extortion by several clubs, including the Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Club in Kumarghat and other nearby clubs from Kumarghat and Fatikroy.
In response, the Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Club organized a press conference to clarify their position. Club secretary Kishore Das stated that a dispute over donations with one club in Fatikroy led to the protest, and the names of other clubs, including theirs, were wrongly dragged into the matter. “Our club has more than 700 members, and the annual festival is organized with contributions from members, local residents, and businesses,” he said.
He further added that donations also come from outside areas, and the festival is held collectively as a community event.
Club president Vivek Roy also clarified that while vehicles are stopped for collecting donations, no money is taken directly from drivers. Donations are collected from truck owners or cargo owners.
“Some drivers are misusing the situation by writing inflated amounts, such as ₹30,000 instead of ₹3,000, on the donation receipts,” he alleged. He urged drivers to verify facts before raising accusations.
The incident has raised concerns across the district, prompting the state administration to issue warnings. Officials have stated that strict action will be taken if more than two groups are found collecting donations at the same spot.
Last year, similar donation disputes in Kadamtala, North Tripura, escalated into a communal clash, resulting in fatalities. The state government has expressed determination to prevent such incidents this year, with the Chief Minister issuing public advisories on social media against extortion practices.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation to ensure that the festival proceeds peacefully.
