KALNA (EAST BURDWAN): Seventy-year-old Indra Narayan Sen is not used to fame. But he’s had loads of it — more than he ever wanted — since Sunday, thanks to a little attention from Lady Luck.

On Sunday, the septuagenarian won a Rs 1-crore

. Three days later, he turned up at the Kalna police station, pleading with officer-in-charge Rakesh Singh for security. He told the officer that he was afraid to step out of home since he became an overnight crorepati.

Sen, a former deep tubewell operator who retired nearly a decade back, lives in his unimposing home at Sahapara village in East Burdwan’s Kalna on a very modest pension of Rs 10,000. On Sunday, almost on a whim, he bought 10 daily

state lottery tickets for Rs 60. “I had gone to the Guptipara market and bought those tickets as an afterthought,” he told TOI. “I kept the tickets folded in my pockets and did not even bother to check the results.”

Siddheswari Lottery Center owner Mintu Biswas, who sold the tickets to Sen, however, did keep an eye on the results, declared around 8pm. He found out that a ticket purchased from his shop by Sen had struck the jackpot. Biswas started to deck up his small shop with flowers and offered sweets to passers-by. He then set out to track down Sen to inform him of his windfall.

“When the shop-owner came to my home to alert me, I did not believe him,” Sen said. “But, when he insisted, I accompanied him to his shop to check the results (which Biswas had downloaded and printed out from a local cyber-cafe). I was convinced only then. But I did not share this with anyone because I was anxious. I have never seen so much money. When I retired, I got around Rs 1 lakh. So, I got scared.”

But the word was already out. “Biswas told everyone that I had won the Rs one-crore prize money,” Sen said.

Winner to get cash in 3 months

Sen admits that the lottery win has completely changed his life. “Everyone wishes to congratulate me, even advise me what to do with the money. Some even want to shake my hand. People whom I have never seen before are coming down to my home to offer help,” he says.

He has visited the local SBI branch to deposit the lottery ticket. “The amount will be credited to my account within three months,” he said. “But I cannot be at peace as long as I have this spotlight on me.” Which is why, he says, he went to the cops. Officer-in-charge Singh has assured him of all help. “I have even given him my number and asked him to inform me about any problem he faces. We are keeping a watch on the situation.”

As for Sen, he has already decided what to do with the prize money. “I want to donate a part of it to build a Durga temple at my in-laws’ place. I want to offer some money as dakshina and offer puja. The rest, I will divide among my three sons and grandsons. My pension is enough for me and my wife to spend the rest of our lives. I just want to secure the future of my sons and grandsons.”