Kalchini (Alipurduar), Jan. 11: A small-time trader has lodged an FIR against four RSP members accusing them of beating up his son for refusing to pay a donation to the party.

Tapshi Sha, 50, who sells fruits here, about 33km from Alipurduar town, said in the complaint that the party members had demanded Rs 100 from him yesterday for their district conference. “I offered them Rs 10 because I earn little. Refusing to take the money, they threatened to drive out all people from Bihar from Kalchini.”

According to Sha, the RSP members came to the pan shop run by his son, Mahesh, this morning. “They threw Mahesh on the road and beat him. They also brought a butcher’s knife to kill my son. But people from the area intervened and saved him.”

Mahesh (24) was taken to the Latabari block hospital with chest pain and inflammation on his forehead. He was released after first aid. He, too, lodged a police complaint.

Jibanananda Jha, a member of the Jalpaiguri district secretariat of the RSP, denied that Mahesh being beaten by his party members. “Mahesh had slapped one of our boys when they went to him to say sorry. We have lodged an FIR against Mahesh,” he added.

Debasish Sarkar, the subdivisional police officer of Alipurduar, said: “We have received FIRs from both sides and have started an inquiry.”

People from Bihar, who comprise about 20 per cent of Kalchini’s 27,000-odd population, condemned the incident.