“From a Palm-Leaf Hut to a Palace” – Basanti Panchayat Chief Faced with Protests; Eggs Thrown at Him

Basanti, South 24 Parganas: There was a time when he lived in a single-room hut and supported his family by practicing exorcism. Today, he owns a multi-storied house and wields considerable influence. It is this drastic transformation in his lifestyle that has sparked outrage among the residents of Masjidbati Gram Panchayat in Basanti Block.

On Friday morning, villagers surrounded Panchayat Chief Gour Sardar as he was entering the Panchayat office and staged a protest. Eggs, mud, and cow dung were thrown at him. Protesters also demonstrated by tying gamchhas (traditional cotton towels) around their necks—a symbolic gesture of protest.

Chief Gour Sardar was arriving at the Panchayat office for work on Friday morning when an agitated crowd, having gathered beforehand, blocked his path.

Villagers allege that Gour had terrorized the area during election times. After the change of government in the state, he was rarely seen in the locality. Upon spotting him today, locals vented their long-standing anger.

Police from Basanti Police Station arrived at the scene before the situation could spiral out of control. They rescued the Chief from the agitated crowd and escorted him to safety.

Villagers’ Allegation: “From Exorcist to Panchayat Chief”
One resident participating in the protest said:

“He used to live in a palm-leaf hut; now he lives in a palace. He used to practice exorcism and engage in quackery before becoming a Trinamool Panchayat Chief. There is no end to the corruption.”

Locals claim that Gour Sardar once practiced astrology, followed by Tantra rituals, and then exorcism. He used to struggle to make ends meet in a single-room hut. However, the picture of his life has changed completely over the last few years; a large house has been built right next to that single-room hut, and his status has risen significantly.

Villagers state that resentment had been brewing over this sudden financial prosperity and the alleged abuse of power.

Additional police forces have been deployed in the area following the incident. Police officials stated that the situation is now under control and that action will be taken upon receipt of a written complaint. Meanwhile, there has been no reaction from Gour Sardar so far.

Allegations of corruption against a Trinamool Panchayat Pradhan are nothing new. However, the fact that public outrage has escalated to the point of people taking to the streets and hurling eggs and cow dung has become a major topic of discussion in the area. This incident in Basanti has once again raised questions regarding the transparency of public representatives.