Few villagers cast votes in Purulia killing fields @ The Times of India ... TNN | May 11, 2011, 07.11am IST

PURULIA: The droning sound of the helicopter high above, or the overbearing presence of central forces in this village failed to assure the residents of Baghbinda near the Ayodhya Hills. A total of 40 people turned up at the polling booth, despite requests from the administration and political parties. This is one slice of the Bagmundi constituency in Purulia that recorded a high polling on Tuesday.

Baghbinda village lost its rhythm since December 16, 2010, when seven Forward Bloc supporters were gunned down by Maoists. Many families fled their homes and went to Jhalda, Bokaro and Purulia, never to come back again. Their huts remain, not the men.

Those who stayed back didn`t turn up to the polling booth till 8.30 in the morning. And this despite repeated requests from Forward Bloc leader Nishikanta Mehta and his comrades. Even DM A K Singha had promised security to the 7,000-odd population of which 1,029 have their names in the electoral rolls.

"We do not believe in assurances anymore. We have been demanding a permanent police camp in the area since long. It hasn`t come up as yet. Who will take the responsibility if anything happens to us after the polls? The security forces won`t be staying for long," said Bijoli Mahato who turned down requestes from Forward Bloc and CPM activists. At the end of the day, there were 330 voters in the Baghbinda booth. Most of them from the adjoining areas , while a few from Baghbinda went to vote.

One of those few people who voted on Tuesday was Mangala Soren. "The wealthy in our village have fled to safer places. Some took shelter in the relief camps organised by political parties.

But we have no place to go. We are getting support from the panchayat. So, my family thus voted today," said Soren.

Forward Bloc leader Nishikanta Mehta didn`t insist on voting. "I requested the villagers to go to the polling booth. But I didn`t force them because I can`t provide them security. The village is yet to get over the scare," he said. Trinamool Congress district president K.P. Singhdeo also felt that the villagers should not be disturbed. "The Left supporters used to force the villagers cast their votes in their favour. But the villagers have become conscious now. They can decide their course on their own," the Trinamool leader said.