India, April 17 -- By Rajnish Singh

Alipurduar (West Bengal), [India], April 17 (ANI): As West Bengal heads toward a crucial Assembly election, voices from the ground are growing louder against the state's lottery system, with people from Alipurduar's Falakata constituency demanding a complete shutdown, calling the system exploitative and harmful to the poor.

Residents of Falakata assembly constituency in Alipurduar district, ranging from sellers to buyers and general citizens, have expressed deep concern over what they describe as a cycle of loss, addiction, and economic distress.

For many like Virendra Sarkar, a lottery seller, the business offers little stability.

Selling tickets worth Rs 800-900 daily, Sarkar says profits are unce...