Assam: Sribhumi panchayat secretary jumps into drain to escape angry locals

What began as a routine day at Sribhumi’s Suprakandi Gaon Panchayat office quickly turned into a scene straight out of a political satire, as chaos erupted over the posting of the panchayat secretary.

Villagers allegedly chased away GP secretary Manoj Kumar Das, forcing him to make an escape by jumping into a nearby drain to save himself from an angry crowd.

The flashpoint was Das’s sudden reappearance at the panchayat office with an order claiming his reinstatement. His return did not go down well with panchayat members or locals, who had earlier celebrated his transfer from the Suprakandi GP.

The controversy traces back to a dispute over issuing a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for a liquor shop, which led to a public fallout between GP president Kalpana Roy and the secretary. Complaints were filed with the district administration, but with little immediate effect.

Subsequently, following the intervention of Panchayat Minister Ranjit Das, Manoj Kumar Das was transferred and Pallab Chakraborty was appointed as the new secretary. However, within a day, Pallab Chakraborty was removed and Manoj Kumar Das was reinstated, a move strongly opposed by panchayat members.

Tensions flared again on December 19, when Manoj Kumar Das allegedly attempted to convene a meeting at the panchayat office on his own, leading to chaos and public outrage at the premises.