Schoolkids in voters list

BALASORE: Names of Anjan Kumar Mallick, Biswadevi Patra and Himanshu Mallick feature in the new voters’ list and it says they are all 19 years old.  The fact: While Anjan (15) and Himanshu (15) are Class IX students of Ramachandra Academy, Biswadevi (14) studies in Raghunath High School. The discrepancy in the list does not end here. Sources said the list prepared in Basta block for the ensuing panchayat election includes names of hundreds of schoolchildren. It is being alleged that local leaders influenced schoolteachers to add names of under-aged boys and girls in the list of voters. Some names were also added in the block office.  Meanwhile, Collector Akhila Bihari Ota has ordered a probe into the alleged irregularities in the preparation of the list.Earlier, similar allegations were reported from Baliapal block. Following a probe, the Panchayat Development Officer (PDO), Saroj Das and village level worker (VLW) of Anladiha panchayat, Harihar Khalapalia were placed under suspension and the BDO transferred.