ELECTION

Womenfolk on peace mission

 

COOCH BEHAR, May 16: Fearing rerun of Nandigram the women of Checkpost Colony in Dinhata formed a resistance group to protect their village from trouble creators. They are reportedly guarding the village at night so that no CPI-M activist can enter the village with any unscrupulous intention.

 

In the previous three-tier panchayat election in Putimari-I Gram Panchayat of Dinhata two CPI-M candidates had won from this area. Villagers alleged that no development was done during the outgoing term of the GP. The elected representatives practiced one thing only and that is corruption. A number of complaints were lodged against them.

 

This time the CPI-M replaced their candidates apprehending a revolt in the area. On the otherhand, the Forward Bloc and the Congress entered into an alliance here and fielded one FB supported independent candidate and one Congress candidate.

 

During the first phase of campaign the male residents started guarding the village at night to prevent any move to break the peace. They alleged that the CPI-M activists from outside of the village used to enter the village to woo the poor voters with foodgrains and money. Resistance from the villagers made the CPI-M activists angry and that raised the fear of untoward incidents.

 

At this stage the women of the village came out and formed a resistance group. Nurjahan Bibi, Farijan Bibi, Anoara Khatun, Minu Das, Panchami Mohanto and others of the group believe the goons will not dare to attack the women prior to the election. They fear the CPI-M activists may try to bribe the poor voters at the night before the polling day.

 

Local FB leader Mr Kali Basunia welcomed the initiative of the womenfolk. "They are doing this to maintain peace because no one wants a rerun of Nandigram here. They may be able to prevent the other villagers from the atrocities unleashed by the CPI-M", he said. On the otherhand, CPI-M's district secretariat member Mr Benubadal Chakraborty termed the initiative as a fabricated drama of the Forward Bloc. The CPI-M has no intension to disturb the peace and bribe the voters, he said. []

 

PHOTO : Women on guard to resist trouble creators from entering in the village. At Checkpost Colony of Dinhata in Cooch Behar.