Mayabunder: A brazen daylight assault on a Gram Panchayat Pradhan near Mayabunder has not only left a local leader injured but also exposed a bitter political fault line in Pahalgaon, setting the stage for a fierce battle of allegations and counter-allegations.The attack on Pahalgaon Pradhan Shibnanda Bairagi has triggered a major political controversy in North and Middle Andaman, exposing deep divisions within the local leadership and raising questions over law and order. Bairagi was reportedly on his way to a bank around 9 a.m. when his vehicle was intercepted near Lal Tikrey-Tugapur No. 2 Junction.
According to an FIR lodged at Mayabunder Police Station, three cousins allegedly stopped his vehicle and assaulted him with sticks, stones and fists, damaging the vehicle and causing multiple injuries to his face, eyes, chest and limbs.
The attack was reportedly halted only after local residents and passing police personnel rushed to the spot. The injured Pradhan was subsequently provided medical attention.
Claiming that the assault was a planned act of retaliation, Bairagi alleged that he had recently submitted complaints to authorities regarding certain illegal activities in the area. He further claimed that one of the accused is a serving Home Guard Volunteer.nPolice have registered a case against the three accused under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including charges related to voluntarily causing hurt, wrongful restraint, mischief causing damage and common intention. Investigation is in progress.
The incident has, however, unfolded into a wider political row. Pahalgaon Zilla Parishad Member Basanti Devi, while condemning the assault, released a video along with local villagers alleging that there was widespread public resentment against the functioning of the Pradhan. She claimed that many residents had long-standing grievances, though she maintained that violence could not be justified.
The attack has sharply polarized the local community, with supporters describing Bairagi as a victim of targeted intimidation and others pointing to simmering public discontent. As police probe the case, the incident has brought the growing tensions within Pahalgaon Panchayat politics into the open, making it one of the most contentious local issues in recent months.
