Demanding inclusion in North Dinajpur district, residents of Kurbanpur, a village in South Dinajpur district have decided to boycott the panchayat polls. No nomination has been filed from the area either.
According to the villagers, their area is adjacent to Raiganj, the district headquarters of North Dinajpur, which is why they are demanding the inclusion in North Dinajpur district. “Otherwise, we have to travel to Balurghat, which is the South Dinajpur headquarters for official work, involving time and money. The demand has been a long-standing one,” said the villagers.
“Unless the authorities comply with our demand, the village as one would boycott the panchayat and all subsequent elections,” the villagers added.
The district administration is undecided on the matter and could not promise to accede to the demand. “It is a serious matter and can be sorted out at the highest level,” South Dinajpur district magistrate Mr Swapan Chatterjee, said.
Meanwhile, licensed gun holders in South Dinajpur district have expressed dissatisfaction with the election commission’s instruction to deposit their firearms at local police stations 21 days before the panchayat polls. Expressing insecurity, the gun owners met the IC of Balurghat police station today. More than 400 licensed gun holders residing within the jurisdiction of the Balurghat police station have started depositing their guns at the police stations.