Investors of chit fund protest, WB govt promises strong steps

Following statewide protests by depositors and agents against 'chit fund' company Saradha Group, which is virtually on the verge of collapse, the West Bengal government today assured that strict action would be initiated.
Irate depositors of the Saradha Group threw stones at its office on Krishnanath Road in Berhampore town in Murshidabad district during the day demanding their money back.
Superintendent of Police Humayun Kabir said that the police restored order and were investigating.
Widespread protests by investors were reported from North and South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly and Burdwan districts, where agents of the chit fund company were chased and heckled by depositors.

Many offices of the chit fund were damaged by the protestors, police sources said.
A Burdwan report said that Jadav Majhi (33), an agent of the group, was found hanging from ceiling of a room at Mayabazar in Durgapur town yesterday.

Police have registered a case of unnatural death.
Transport minister and senior Trinamool Congress leader Madan Mitra asked about the government's responsibility to safeguard the interest of investors said "Strictest action will be taken against defaulters as per our chief minister's instruction."
Trinamool Congress All-India General Secretary Mukul Roy said "I am not in the government, but as party functionary I can tell you that the government is seriously concerned with the functioning of chit funds.

"When a large number of people have been cheated, the government must take action and the chief minister is concerned about it," he said.