Villagers block Malda–Ratua highway over missing voter names, tension grips Paranpur

High tension gripped the Paranpur area of Ratua-2 block in Malda district on Monday morning after hundreds of villagers staged a road blockade protesting the disappearance of their names from the voter list. The demonstration began around 9:00 am at the Paranpur Eidgah Stand, where angry residents gathered and blocked the Malda–Ratua State Highway.

Protesters placed large tree trunks across the middle of the road, completely halting traffic and raising slogans against the administration. The sudden blockade brought vehicular movement to a standstill, leaving long queues of vehicles stranded along the busy state highway. The protest quickly escalated the tension in the area as commuters remained stuck for hours. Demonstrators demanded immediate action from authorities and restoration of their names in the voter list, alleging that several eligible voters had been excluded.

After receiving information about the unrest, a large police contingent from Pukhuriya Police Station along with Central Forces rushed to the spot. Security personnel began efforts to clear the blockade and restore normal traffic by persuading and reasoning with the protesters.