Sujit Roy, Alipurduar: Panic has spread in Alipurduar's Majherdabri tea garden as soon as the 'SIR' or Special Intensive Revision was issued. After examining the 2002 voter list, it has come to light that 70 per cent of voters' names are missing from booth numbers 279 and 280 of the tea garden. Even the local panchayat member and BLO's names have disappeared from the list. This has caused panic among the garden workers. From panchayat members to tea garden workers, everyone has shifted the blame to the Election Commission. When contacted by phone, Alipurduar-2 block BDO Nima Shering Sherpa did not answer the call. Majherdabri tea garden manager Chinmoy Dhar said the matter has been discussed with the ADM, who has assured to look into it.
Initially, the booth number was 226 for this location. Later, it was changed to 227. Currently, there are two booths, 279 and 280, for about four and a half thousand voters. After examining the list, it has been found that 70 per cent of garden workers' names are missing among the four and a half thousand voters in the two booths. Tea garden workers have been voting at these two booths all this time. Gobin Toppo became a panchayat member after being elected by the voters of these booths. Yet his name is also not in the 2002 voter list. BLO Sunita Chikbraike, who is assigned to SIR work, also does not have her name in the Majherdabri tea garden voter list. However, she claims the problem will be resolved. Here, 80 per cent of workers are tribal. Tea garden worker Krishna Bagowar has questioned why their names are not on the 2002 voter list despite voting for so long. He says, "The Election Commission will have to take responsibility for this."
Regarding this, garden manager Chinmoy says, "This tea garden has two booths. Here panchayat member Gobin Toppo and BLO Sunita Chikbraike's names are not there. Seventy per cent of workers' and non-workers' names are missing. I have contacted the administration about this matter. They are saying a technical error has occurred. Many of these people have been voting for a long time. Someone became a panchayat member, yet their name is not there. I am getting a lot of calls. Even if someone's name is there, their father's name is missing. All are workers. There will definitely be panic." Regarding this, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Debabrata Roy says, "I have heard about the incident. Measures will be taken to ensure genuine voters' names are included."
