Most pluckers in gardens are women. A file picture

Siliguri, April 1: Small growers have alleged that tealeaves are being removed at night by a section of workers, leading to losses at a time when the price of brew has reached Rs 9-10 per kg from Rs 5-7.

The thefts started around mid-March across Jalpaiguri district. Anil Pal, the owner of Arnab Agro Pvt Ltd in Fatapukur, is one such victim. Two weeks ago, Pal who owns a 30-acre plantation, discovered that around five quintals of green leaves had been clandestinely plucked overnight from his estate. Pal was also abused by two workers on March 19 after he lodged a complaint with Rajganj police. “I suspected their role in the theft and later lodged another diary,” said Pal. The workers have been suspended.

In the past 10-15 days, thefts were reported from at least 100-150 plantations everyday, said a small grower. In each case, the quantity of leaves stolen ranged from 50kg to a quintal and more. “If a grower loses a quintal three-four days a week, his monthly loss is anything between Rs 5,000 and Rs 15,000,” he added.

Bijoygopal Chakraborty, the joint secretary of the Jalpaiguri Zilla Kshudra Cha Chashi Samiti, said there seems to be a nexus between the local goons and a section of pluckers. Young girls and women are apparently involved in the crime. “Most small growers cannot afford guards as they were originally paddy farmers who later switched over to tea. Even if they do, the vigilance is not enough. With large plastic bags tied to their backs, the women enter the plantations in the evening, pluck the leaves at night and carry them to brokers the next morning,” said N.K. Basu, who is associated with the New Gardens’ Forum of the Indian Tea Planters’ Association.

Currently, there are 5,500 small tea holdings in Jalpaiguri, which sell their produce to bought-leaf factories (BLF). The BLFs, however, are willing to buy from anyone, including the brokers. Police said they were yet to get any complaints from growers’ organisation. “But we will try to check such thefts. If there is a complaint, we will arrest the guilty,” said Tapas Das, the Jalpaiguri additional superintendent of police. Pal’s complaint is being probed, he added.