Traders burn tyres in protest against forcible collection of Saraswati Puja subscription at Bahadurpur Market in Patna on Monday. Picture by Sachin

Patna, Jan. 23: Shopkeepers of Bahadurpur Market today kept their outlets closed in protest against the alleged forcible collection of Saraswati Puja subscription by boarders of Saidpur Hostel.

Patna University (PU) authorities had on December 29 announced that they would take action against students who collect subscription through coercive means. However, shopkeepers alleged that some groups of hostel boarders had threatened them to cough up the money or face the music.

“What can we do? Earlier, we had decided not to come out of our homes at all. But then we mustered courage to stage a protest so that the administration and the police have an idea about the problems we are facing,” Ram Vriksh Kumar, owner of an electronics shop in the area, told The Telegraph.

He added: “Groups of boys, who are all boarders of the Saidpur Hostel, came down to the market on January 20. They entered the subscription amounts — between Rs 201 and Rs 1,001 — in the receipts on their own and handed them over to us. They said we would face consequences if we did not pay up. They also told us to arrange for the money by today.”

Another shopkeeper Manoj Kumar said: “We do not have huge shops. Some are fast food stalls, betel shops and salons. Our income is limited. Some of us requested the boarders to reduce the subscription amount. But they did not listen to us. We have lodged an FIR with the Bahadurpur police station.”

Police said they would extend protection to the traders and nab the people behind the “subscription racket”. Patna City deputy superintendent of police Sushil Kumar said the businessmen should not scared.

“We have asked them to open their shops. The police are acting on the matter. We will take action against those responsible,” he said.

The shopkeepers, however, were not convinced.

“The police have asked us to catch those people demanding money from us and hand them over to them. This is not our job. If we do that, we would face the consequences later,” Manoj said.

Asked about the allegations against boarders of Saidpur Hostel, Patna University vice-chancellor Sambhu Nath Singh said the matter would be investigated.

“First, we need to find out whether these men are students of the university or its constituent colleges. If they are, strict action will be taken against them. Majority of boarders in Saidpur Hostel are illegal. We have asked for police help many times but are yet to get any assistance,” he said.

Traders who are victims of the whims and fancies of the hostel boarders claimed that it has become a regular affair at the market.

Sumit Kumar, another trader of the area, said: “This has become a regular problem. We cannot oppose them as it would lead to fights.”