Panchayat Polls: Dongaria Kondhs Take Away Ballot Box In Odisha’s Rayagada; Know Why

Rayagada: Disruption in polling during panchayat elections spread to tribal areas in the state as members of Dongaria Kondh tribe in the district took away the ballot box from a polling station as their names did not figure in the voters’ list.

According to sources, the tribals of Upara Masudi and Tala Masudi villages had come to cast their votes at Railima polling booth in Sanakhandi panchayat during the third phase polling of the elections.

After checking the voter’s list, the election officials told them that the names of 120 tribals were missing. Enraged over it, the tribals staged a protest and then took away the ballot box from the booth.

On being informed, Rayagada SDPO Divyajyoti Das, tehsildar Debasis Kar and Kalyansinghpur IIC Sukuma Hansda rushed to the spot. After collecting information about the tribals, the officials went to their houses.

The officials held a discussion with the agitated tribals and assured them of looking into their problem. On the request of the officials, the Dongaria Kondhs returned the ballot box to them.

The tehsildar told the media that he would take up the matter with higher officials and rectify the error in the voters’ list.