An entrepreneur in Malda who intends to set up a kindergarten school in the district has alleged that some goons are demanding money from him for the project.

Subhankar Satiar, who said he planned to pump around Rs 50 lakh to set up the educational institution for children at Bala Sahapur, a locality which is around 5km from the district headquarters, also alleged that the goons threatened him.

“On Tuesday, they even broke the boundary wall at the plot where I have planned the preparatory school. I am feeling insecure. I filed a complaint at Malda police station,” he said.

According to him, as he planned the project and initiated construction work on the plot which measures around one bigha, some goons approached him.

“I have no idea who they are. They have met me several times, asking for money. They have called me up. Sometimes, they asked for Rs 3 lakh while at other times, they demanded Rs 5 lakh,” Satiar alleged.

He claimed that when he refused to pay up, they damaged the boundary wall.

“A couple of days back, six goons, who I suspect are from the same group that is trying to extort money from me, stopped me at the bypass on the outskirts of the town. They told me that instead of setting up the school, I should sell the plot to them and offered me Rs 2.5 crore. I somehow hurriedly left the spot,” he added.

He said once the institution came up, it could provide jobs to at least 35 persons. “I plan to hire some educated youths of the area. But the way I have been intimidated, I am having second thoughts on going ahead with my project,”

The goons, he said, demanded he give a part of his land to them so that they build a road that would lead to some unauthorised shops on land owned by the state PWD.

Pratima, his mother, sounded perturbed. “Our entire family is fearful. We don’t know what to do,” she said.

Police said they are probing the case. “We are checking out the veracity of the charges. Our men are trying to find out those who demanded money,” said an officer.

The allegation has made district BJP leaders react. “Such hooliganism has become rampant across the state. It is unfortunate that a person cannot even set up a school in the area without getting demands for money,” said a district BJP leader.

Trinamul leaders said the police would get to the truth.

“The police are making inquiries. Extortionists should face legal consequences,” said Dulal Sarkar, a district vice-president of Trinamul.