Villagers Block State Highway Over ‘Rigging’ In Panchayat Polls In Odisha’s Bhadrak

Bhadrak: Hundreds of voters staged a road blockade on state highway protesting rigging in the panchayat election in the district on Sunday.

According to sources, while polling was going on at Badagal under Fatepur panchayat in Tihidi block, some miscreants barged into booth number 4 and 7. Despite opposition from the voters standing in the queue, they snatched the ballot papers and dropped those in the ballot box after marking on a particular symbol.

On getting the information, BJP leaders of the area along with their workers arrived at the spot. As their attempts to prevent the miscreants from rigging the polling did not deter the latter, they informed the police.

With the police failing to arrive at the polling station despite repeated calls, the agitated voters and BJP workers led by the party supported sarpanch candidate in the panchayat took out a rally and staged the road blockade on Chandbali-Bhadral state highway.

Tension mounted in the area as the agitators continued their road blockade leading to vehicles getting stranded on both directions of the highway.

On being informed, district SP Charan Singh Meena arrived at the spot and prevented further escalation of the situation. Later, deputy collector Manoj Patra met the agitators and took note of their complaint of poll rigging.

On Patra’s assurance that he would recommend to higher authorities for repolling in the panchayat, the villagers withdrew their agitation.