Concern over forcible collection of dotion in Tinsukia

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT
TINSUKIA, May 7: Come festival, Tinsukia becomes a haven for dotion collectors, innumerable groups swing into action in the market areas, forcibly drop money receipts at the desk of shop keepers and the poor shopkeepers often succumb under the muscle power of these goons. The owners have to cough up the amount out of fear of being roughed up. Though of late, the present SP Mugdha Jyoti Dev Mahanta has been firm to contain this mece and sought citizens’ support, rarely the latter come forward to complain. The personnel manning the police stations are often hands-in-glove with these anti-social elements as collection drives have been taking place right in front of the police, even as veracity and antecedents of these groups remain doubtful. While some are allegedly fraud, most of them have dubious distinction of not maintaining any transparency in accounts nor contribute a penny for the uplift of the society even as the budget exceeds several lakhs of rupees.
The modus operandi of varies from player to player. While the big players prowl on unscrupulous traders after dusk, mostly on heavy vehicles transporting illegal consignments of oil, coal, timber, ginger, pilfered tea leaves and PDS items. Lucrative transaction usually takes place in some desolate areas of NH-37 close to entry-exit points in Tinsukia town, the medium and small players, however, spread their tentacles in all shopping complexes across Tinsukia, many of which constituted respective associations to get rid of harassment.
What has intrigued and raised eyebrows of many was the recovery of two money receipts issued by two different Bihu committees holding the Sanmilon on the same date and venue! The two organizations – Brihattor Tinisukia Sanmilita Yuva Manch and Tinisukia Anchalik Mohila Samiti are holding their respective Bihu Sanmilon at the Tinsukia District Library Auditorium on May 13. A close examition of the two receipts will reveal that the former organization appears to be fake, and the Tinisukia Anchalik Mohila Samiti is genuine as it carries registration number along with official seal of the office bearer and is holding its 5th annual programme.