People queue up at Dhubri booth outside border fence

GUWAHATI: Among 20-odd polling booths which are close to the India-Bangladesh border in the Dhubri parliamentary constituency, the Bhogdanga polling station stands out. This is the only polling booth in the constituency which is located outside the border fence, but is within the Indian territory.

Out of total 267.5-km-long international border that Assam shares with Bangladesh, a 153-km stretch of the border runs along Dhubri.

People who vote at the Bhogdanga polling station come from the two villages - Bhogdanga and Fauskarkuti - which are outside the border fence but within Indian territory. Across the two villages, there are an estimated 450 voters, all of who are either Koch Rajbongshis or Muslims.

Polling officials reached the polling station by first travelling on boats through the braided channels of Brahmaputra that flows down to Bangladesh in Dhubri, and then by tractors while cross numerous chars (sand islands on Brahmaputra).

Deprived of basic amenities, life for the voters of Bhogdanga and Fauskarkuti has always been difficult for those living outside the fence. While the remote location of the villages poses a major hurdle, the residents of the villages have to depend on the timing for opening of the border gates for access to basic needs in markets across the fence on the Indian side. The border gate closes at 4pm.

There have been reports of residents of the two villages complaining of frequent robberies by miscreants from across the international boundary. The narrow strip of land is surrounded by villages of Bangladesh on the other side.

"Polling at the Bhongdanga booth was conducted smoothly. By 3pm, almost all the voters in the area had exercised their franchise. We have made all the security arrangements with BSF personnel helping us to ensure the smooth conduct of polls," said an election official in Dhubri.

Dhubri deputy commissioner and district electoral officer, Anant Lal Gyani said, "Polling across Dhubri, including in areas close to the international border, was peaceful and hassle-free. Polling was also peaceful in Bhogdanga which is located outside the fence."

The minority-dominated Dhubri parliamentary constituency recorded 86.94% polling on Tuesday.

A senior BSF official said that the personnel of border force were engaged in helping voters by providing necessary security cover. He added that a company of Railway Protection Force (RPF) was also deployed to assist them. "We have kept up strong vigil along the border. As there is election, we have to be extra cautious so that miscreants do not disrupt the poll process," the BSF official said.

At a polling station in Sasterghat polling station, which is about 500 meter from the border fence in Patamari char, a polling official said that the people had to come on boats to cast their votes. The official added that there were altogether 449 voters under the polling station area and almost all of them exercised their franchise before voting ended at 5pm.