Seven youths were arrested in Shyampukur in north Calcutta on Friday for allegedly assaulting a trader for not giving in to their extortion demand.

The youths — members of Pallibashi Brinda, a club in Ramdhan Khan Lane — had allegedly demanded Rs 6,000 from Topu Santra, 50, who has a hosiery factory in north Calcutta, for a Shitala puja they were to conduct on Saturday.

Santra told police that he gave the youths Rs 1,200 and refused to donate any more. “The trader told the club members that he could not pay the entire amount. Apparently dissatisfied with the donation, the youths threatened Santra with dire consequences if he didn’t pay up,” said an officer of Shyampukur police station.

On Thursday, according to the complaint lodged by Santra, the youths allegedly assaulted him at his manufacturing unit in Nayan Sur Lane, a few metres from the club. Acting on the complaint, seven of the club members — Subrata Das, Biswanath Gharai, Binoy Ghosh, Sanjay Adhikari, Raj Kumar Kundu, Rabi Karak and Ajay Gupta — were arrested on Friday.

Booked under Section 386 of the IPC, they have been remanded in three days’ police custody.

“Santra gave us a photocopy of the receipt that the club members had issued him. The receipt shows the figure of Rs 6,000. The receipt will act as evidence against the club members in court,” said an officer.

A member of the club, however, said Santra had “framed his friends”.

Last November, Metro had reported that members of 21 clubs knocked on the door of a Maniktala resident shortly after he opened a shop, demanding donations totalling Rs 36,000.

A host of businessmen had said the clubs were getting away with extortion because of the backing of political parties.

The police, however, said Pallibashi Brinda was not affiliated to any party.

Fire: A fire broke out in a plastic factory at Bantra in Howrah late on Thursday. It was doused in two hours. The factory was gutted.