Punisol (Bengal): On April 23, the first phase of voting in Bengal turned into a festive spectacle at Punisol village in Bankura.Only a few days ago, Jalilur Rahaman, Rabeya Bibi, Rajina Khatun, Saidul Bhagi, Jahanara Khan, Begam Bhanu Khan, Abdul Sabur Molla, along with nearly 8,500 residents of the village, had no certainty about whether they would be able to cast their votes at all. Punisol is one of the largest Muslim clusters in Bengal. The Wire had, in a ground report in March, highlighted the acute anguish that the special intensive revision had put villagers through.Since the report came out, villagers have refused to give up. They have paused their daily work – many are daily wage labourers – and gathered day after day at the Onda Block office, presenting all necessary documents to prove their status as voters.This prompted action from the Election Commission and the Bankura district administration. As a result of their sustained struggle, the names of almost all those who had been excluded were restored to the electoral rolls – barring 65 voters.As Phase One of voting took off in Bengal, voters were not going to stay away from the booths at Punisol and turned up in large numbers.Voters queue at the Keshabpur booth of Onda assembly constituency. Photo: Madhu Sudan Chatterjee.This morning, when this reporter met an ailing Jalilur Rahman, a retired librarian from Punisol village, he recounted his recent ordeal. “I went back to the Onda Block Office with the report published in The Wire and showed it to the concerned officials. That is when they finally took notice,” he said.Rahman’s name had originally appeared at serial number 1232 in Booth Number 134 of the 254 Onda assembly constituency. However, his entry in the voter list had been marked with an “Under Adjudication” stamp.“Despite visiting the office multiple times earlier with all my documents, nothing happened” he added. “But after they saw the March 17 report in The Wire, they told me to return home and assured me that their officials would visit my home as early as possible.”He further stated that poll officials later came to his house and again verified his documents, including his voter ID card, government retirement papers and land records. Following this verification, his name was reinstated in the electoral rolls.“Today, I have finally exercised my democratic right,” he said, his voice reflecting both relief and triumph.Voters queue at the Keshabpur booth of Onda assembly constituency. Photo: Madhu Sudan Chatterjee.Early on April 23, long queues were seen across the 22 polling booths in the Keshabpur Primary schools, the Punisol Board High School, and the Upordanga High School. The heat was intense, yet men and women stood patiently in line under the harsh sun, waiting for their turn to vote. One by one, voters entered the polling stations after showing their ID cards to the security personnel.At the Keshabpur booth, this reporter met Jahanara Khan, Monoyara Bibi, Begam Bhanu Khan and several other women whose names had until recently remained uncertain in the voter list.“We had almost given up hope of being able to vote,” Jahanara said. “Even after going to the Onda block office, we were ignored. Later, we united and went together to the Onda block office to demand answers. We asked them why our names were kept “Under Adjudication.” Are we not citizens of this country?”FILE IMAGE. Jahanara Khan, Begum Bhanu Khan, Manoyara Bibi Khan, Amena Bibi Khan, Jalefa Khan and Morium Khan show their voter cards in March. They had been marked ‘Under Adjudication’ in the SIR. Photo: Madhu Sudan Chatterjee.“We told the officials clearly that we would continue our sit-in at the block office until our names were properly included in the voter list. We told them that hey had to explain to why we were excluded,” said Monoyara.Following the collective protest, officials visited many of their homes, re-verified documents, and restored their names on the electoral rolls.“We are able to vote today only because we fought for it. From now on, whatever we are rightfully entitled to from the government, we will claim it through strong and united movement,” said Begam Bhanu Khan.Voters at tje Punisol board school in the Onda assembly constituency. Photo: Madhu Sudan Chatterjee.Mofijul Rahman and Golam Khaja Khan, two young men, told this reporter that villagers had been devastated when over 8,000 names had been wiped off the rolls. “Just look at how pappy people are to be able to vote today. Most residents here are extremely poor daily wage earners. They had never imagined they would have to approach the block office,” said Mofijul.Golam said that during the SIR process, the atmosphere of fear that spread among minority communities left many anxious and directionless. “But when your report highlighted the ground reality of Punisol village, it stirred the administration and us into action. That gave people the courage to intensify their movement and reclaimed their democratic rights,” Golam added.Scenes across the village reflected that renewed spirit. Many women arrived at the polling booths with their children by their side.At Punisol, the election had been won.