AMARPUR: Tension flared at the Amarpur Block Development Office on Tuesday after ten Panchayat Pradhans (village chiefs) stormed the premises, accusing the current Block Development Officer (BDO) of paralyzing rural development. The confrontation escalated rapidly, with elected public representatives reportedly misbehaving and shouting at the official right in front of media cameras.
According to the protesting village chiefs, all developmental works and crucial bill clearances across ten panchayats have ground to a absolute halt ever since the transfer of the former BDO, Utpal Das. They alleged that the current BDO, Sanjib Debnath, has intentionally frozen local funds, stalling essential infrastructure and civic welfare projects.
“The block’s progress is completely stagnant under the current administration, and we came here to demand accountability,” a protesting Pradhan stated.
Refuting the allegations of negligence, BDO Sanjib Debnath claimed that the village chiefs are making baseless accusations due to a lack of awareness regarding administrative rules and official facts. With elected representatives and block administration locked in a bitter standoff, local residents fear that vital grassroots developmental projects will remain caught in bureaucratic crossfire.