Devendra Singh (right) interacts with villagers in Panchanandapur. Picture by Surajit Roy

Panchanandapur (Malda), Jan. 12: There seems to be no end to surprises waiting for election observers touring the districts of West Bengal.

Special observer for Malda Devendra Singh today came upon scores of villagers here (25 km from Malda town) who had plenty to complain about. He was told that over 20,000 voters in this area, hit by the erosion of the Ganga every year, had not been included in the electoral rolls. Singh was also shown proof that there were people whose names featured in the voters? lists of Malda as well as in Jharkhand.

The villagers also pointed out that last year a booth, located in the panchayat office here, was engulfed into the river. ?There were 1,300 voters in that booth of whom around 400 have left the area while the 900 other people have been excluded from the voters list,? the villagers complained to Singh.

?There are hearings taking place repeatedly but our names are not being accepted,? said Jamiruddin Sheikh of Banutola village here.

?My name has not been accepted in the list whereas my wife?s name is present,? said Arshad Khan, another villager.

After listening to the allegations levelled by the villagers a visibly annoyed Singh asked block development officer (BDO) Debarun Roy to arrange for a special camp here on January 13 and 14. He also asked the BDO to ensure that all names excluded from the voters? list are enrolled again.

?We have issued more than one notice and the staff of my office are still moving from door to door trying to include the names excluded. Those who are applying with relevant documents are being added to the list,? Roy tried to explain. He also said that there had always been a controversy over the past two decades about the exact residence of those who live along the char lands of the Ganga.

Singh later told reporters: ?I will submit a special report to the Election Commission about voters with photo-identity cards of both Bengal and Jharkhand. I will also discuss the residence controversy with the district magistrate and the commission.? He added that he would attend the special camp here on January 14.

Earlier today, Singh enquired about the manner in which ration cards had been distributed in seven blocks along the Bangladesh border. He went to the subdivisional food department but officials there failed to provide him with detailed records of the latest distribution list. Singh is scheduled to visit the border areas tomorrow.