Durga Puja celebrations at Datta Bari in the district town may not be possible this year as an influential quarter has arranged gambling at the site where the Hindus had been celebrating the festival for the last two decades.

A local Jubo League leader having clout of the influential quarter has set up a parking lot at the traditional Durga Puja mandap site for the motorcycles of those who come to join gambling.

The incident has created a sharp resentment among the local Hindu community members.

Sources said, local Ekata Sangha had been arranging Durga Puja celebrations in the open place ofZila Mahila Krira Sangshta close to Dattabari Loknath Mandir (temple) for the last 20 years.

But this year they could not make any arrangements for the highest religious festival of the Hindus there because of space shortage created by the gambling spot.

They said that local Jubo League leaders and workers obtaining 'legal' permission have been conducting gambling at the south side of Dattabari Loaknath Mandir for the last two months.

Because of illegal occupation of the place for motorcycle parking, it has not become possible for the local Durga Puja Udjapan Committee to set up the puja idols at the site.

The Hindu devotees recently requested an organiser of the gambling to shift the motorcycle parking spot elsewhere, but in vain.

However, the organiser claimed that they set up the parking lot on the Mahila Krira Sangstha's place, not on the puja site.