BETTIAH, Nov. 12 -- Though Bihar recorded an unprecedented voter turnout of 67.14 per cent in the second phase of polling on Tuesday, villagers of the Done area under Ramnagar block in West Champaran district boycotted the polls over the lack of basic infrastructure. Eighteen government buildings had been designated as polling stations in the area. However, what greeted officials were empty booths, deserted streets, and wary villagers keeping a watchful eye on visitors near polling stations, while polling personnel waited in vain for the first voter. The widespread disenchantment among residents, triggered by the non-fulfilment of long-pending demands for roads, internet connectivity, and other essential facilities, culminated in a complete boycott of voting at all 18 booths in the Done area of Ramnagar block. Hindustan Times spoke to a posse of government school teachers posted as volunteers at booth number 1 and booth no 18 in Done area and found a congruity in their statement regarding the poll boycott. Om Kumari Devi, a volunteer posted at Panchayat Sarkar Bhawan, Naurangiya Done confirmed "zero" polling at booth number 2 and similar situation was corroborated government teacher and volunteer Guddi Kumari at booth number 4 and Aganwadi sevika Draupadi Devi at booth number 7. However, Ramnagar's returning officer (RO) Anjalika Kriti confirmed one vote exercised by a voter at booth number 10 in Done area as against 14,508 votes, as per official record, on these booths in Done area. In its November 8 edition, HT had reported about the villagers' plan to boycott the assembly election in as many as 32 hamlets spread over 22 mauja to protest the government's apathy to fulfil demands of roads, bridge, electricity, internet, education and health facilities in Tharu-dominated of West Champaran. Located about 110 km west-north of Bettiah, the headquarters of West Champaran district, the Done area wore a sombre mood on Tuesday as enthusiasm was missing among voters in Khairahni Done, Kamarchhinawa Done, and neighbouring villages that chose to boycott the polls. Huddled in small groups, villagers' grim faces reflected a deep sense of despair and frustration. "Like this time, we will continue to boycott all future elections - be it Lok Sabha or local body - come what may," said Mohan Rao (45), a resident of Khairahni Done, as other villagers gathered around him echoed his resolve in unison. "Nothing can describe our woes," said Chandeshwar Mahato of Naurangiya Done. "Women in our villages remain virtually confined to their homes for weeks during the monsoon. In emergencies - like illness or pregnancy - patients are carried across rivers on cots, just as a body is taken to the cremation ground. Such is our plight due to the absence of roads and a bridge linking us to the subdivision and block headquarters. Deaths by drowning are not uncommon here." "Donwasi ki yahi pukar - abki baar vote bahishkar (This is the call of the Done villagers - a complete boycott of votes). Vote boycott will continue until our demands for roads, bridges, electricity, internet, education, and health facilities are fulfilled," read the slogan resonating across the Done area. Polling was reportedly boycotted in several hamlets, including Gardi Done, Semarawi Tola, Piprahwa Matiyarwa, Naurangiya Done, Majuraha Done, Laxmipur Done, Singahwa Done, Parehwa Done, Daysr Done, Bairiya Done, Gobarahiya Done, Pipra Done, Jhajhari Done, Belatari Done, Bethari Done, Rupwaliya Done, Bankatwa Done, Sherahawa Done, Chulahiyatok Done, Dokani Done, Murhwa Done, Narkartiya Done, Champapur Done, Rakhiya Done, Banwari Chawkidar Tola, Banwari Pahari Tola, Ekrahiya Done, and Damrapur Done. When contacted, Satish Chand Dubey, minister of State for coal and mines, confirmed the boycott in the Done area. "Our efforts to persuade villagers to vote went unheeded. We will look into their grievances and take necessary steps to address them," said the former MP of Valmiki Nagar Lok Sabha constituency, under whose jurisdiction the Done region falls....