MADHUBANI: A dispute has escalated in Sonei Panchayat of Harlakhi block regarding the construction of the Panchayat Sarkar Bhawan. On Monday, hundreds of villagers from Bhala Bengra village staged a strong protest against the Mukhiya at the proposed construction site. The villagers accused the Mukhiya of discrimination in development works and demanded that the construction of the panchayat building should not be obstructed.

The protesting villagers stated that administrative officials had identified land in Bhala Bengra village for the Sonei Panchayat Sarkar Bhawan, and construction work is now commencing there. Villagers allege that the Mukhiya is deliberately obstructing this public welfare project. They argue that the construction of the Panchayat Sarkar Bhawan in Bhala Bengra will benefit people across the entire region. The villagers warned that if the obstruction to the construction continues, they would approach higher authorities and be forced to launch an aggressive agitation.

Hundreds of villagers, including Mukesh Thakur, Ranjit Mehta, Ram Lala Thakur, Ajay Mehta, Deepu Safi, Sachit Thakur, Amar Thakur, Ram Babu Thakur, Saugarath Manjhi, Mamta Devi, Jebri Devi, Kalyani Devi, and Dukhni Devi, participated in the protest.

Meanwhile, the Mukhiya clarified that due to the higher number of wards and population in Sonei village, there is a demand for the Panchayat Sarkar Bhawan to be constructed in Sonei itself.