Armed gang threatens and abuses BDO in Alipurduar district

This occurred hours after Trinamul president of Kalchini block accused him of functioning without consulting elected representatives of rural bodies

Representational image.:Shutterstock

TT   |   Alipurduar   |  23.09.21: An officer of the state administrative services posted as the block development officer (BDO) of Kalchini in Alipurduar district was threatened by armed persons at his residential quarters on Wednesday around 12.30am.

This occurred hours after Trinamul president of Kalchini block, and some others, went to the BDO’s office on Tuesday afternoon and accused him of functioning without consulting elected representatives of rural bodies.

Prasanta Barman, the BDO, who ran inside the washroom of his quarters when he saw the armed men and heard their threats “in vile language”, called up his colleagues and Kalchini police from there. He emerged from the washroom 40 minutes later when his colleagues and police arrived. He later filed a complaint with the police.

No arrests have been made so far.

In recent times, Barman hit the headlines for going beyond the call of his duty to help people get benefits of the state’s social welfare schemes.

“I stay alone in my quarters. Around 12.30pm, I heard somebody knocking on one of the windows that I had left open. As I got up and approached the window, I saw some four people carrying firearms. They hurled abuse at me and threatened to kill me. I rushed to the washroom,” the BDO said.

“I fail to understand why I was threatened. I am only discharging my official responsibilities as the BDO,” he added.

On Tuesday, when Barman was in his office, Pasang Lama, block Trinamul president of Kalchini, with other leaders, gave him a memo. Lama was heard saying that from now on, he and his associates will prepare the list of beneficiaries under the 100-days-work scheme and the BDO won’t have a role in it.

“If the matter is not sorted within seven days, we will launch protests against you. We won’t let you work at the behest of some central ministers,” he was heard saying in a clip that came on social media.

On this, Barman said: “I will not bow before anybody. I am working under state government’s guidelines.

On Wednesday, Lama said the BDO should respect rural representatives. He condemned the night’s incident.

“I am a panchayat functionary for around 15 years now but have never seen a BDO initiating a project without discussing with us. As far as the night’s incident is concerned, we condemn it and want the police to take appropriate steps.”

Calls made to Bholanath Pandey, the Alipurduar SP, went unanswered.

Another police officer speaking on condition of anonymity, said they were probing the case. “We are working on inputs and trying to trace those who had entered the BDO’s residence,” he said.

(https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/armed-gang-threatens-and-abuses-bdo-in-alipurduar-district/cid/1831869)