Binjharpur: Even as the state election commission has ordered re-polling in four booths of Kalyanpur panchayat under this block in Jajpur district following charges of booth rigging, the tension over the issue has refused to abate and has now snowballed into a major dispute.
The incident sparked tension among villagers who threatened to boycott the re-poll if elections are not held in all seven booths of the panchayat instead of only four. They have warned of intensifying their agitation if their demand was not met.
The incident occurred when counting of votes took place in the panchayat after the end of polling February 17.
Supporters of two sarpanch candidates were at loggerheads after charges of rigging in booth no-9,10,11 and 12 surfaced and ballot papers having seals on the symbol of a particular candidate were found inside a toilet.
Police rushed to the spot and restored peace by cane charging on the irate supporters. It was then alleged that the act is the handiwork of miscreants.
BDO Damodar Khuntia wrote to the collector following which the latter wrote to the state election commission over the issue. Accordingly, the state election commission ordered re-polling in the four booths February 21.
However, the villagers demand re-polling in all the seven booths instead of four booths failing which they will boycott the polls. They alleged that miscreants threatened the agents and rigged the booths.
Meanwhile, a Dalit woman Sitarani Mallick who was the agent of a sarpanch candidate in booth no-16 has alleged that the henchmen of the opposite candidate rigged the booth by tying her limbs and threatening her of dire consequences. The police and polling officials present at the spot remained mute spectator during the period.
Similarly, another Dalit woman Puja Jena, an agent in booth no-13, alleged that the henchmen of a rival party candidate barged inside the booth when polling was underway.
They tried to silence her by offering her money but confined her in a room and molested her when she opposed their move. Subsequently, the miscreants rigged the booth, she alleged.
Puja managed to free herself from the clutches of the anti-socials and ran outside. She met Binjharpur IIC Asit Ranjan Mohanty outside the booth and narrated her ordeal.
However, Mohanty refused to listen to her and even did not accept her written complaint in this regard, she claimed. Villagers and the woman demanded suspension of Mohanty. PNN
