SASARAM: What is common to Rehal village in Rohtas district and Pichhulia village in neighbouring Gaya? Voters of the two Maoist-affected villages exercised their franchise for the first time after Independence.
Polling stations were set up at Rehal, situated on the Kaimur Plateau, for the first time. “It was like a dream come true for me when I cast my vote at a polling booth located at Rehal government primary school,” said Pramod Oraon, a local resident. Oraon in his early 50s is all praise for the Election Commission (EC) for setting up the booth for the second phase of the assembly elections.
Polling and security personnel earlier refused to visit the village for security reasons. On February 15, 2002, a young DFO, Sanjay Singh, was killed by Maoists at Rehal for his tough action against mining mafia. Since then, security personnel stopped visiting the village. “Earlier people had to go down to the plains to vote. For the first time polling booths have been up at the village,” Oraon he told this reporter.
Shyam Narain, 60, a former Pipardiha panchayat head, said, “People of Rehal participated in the democratic process this time without fear. Security arrangements have been made by the EC and district administration for peaceful polling.”
Rehal is part of Chenari constituency. People mostly from Yadav, Oraon, Ravidas and Kharbar communities reside at the village, which till recently lacked basic amenities like electricity and drinking water. Panchayat head Yogendra Oraon said that so far, no party has given ticket to tribal candidates despite Chenari being a reserved seat.
ADG (HQ) Kundan Krishnan said, “In Gaya, voters of Maoist-hit Pichhulia village in Chakarbandha area participated in the democratic process for the first time after Independence.”