A cloud of fear looms over a village in Faridkot district, where the dread of notorious gangster Simma Behbal has left an entire village without candidates for its panchayat elections. The Behbal Kalan village, gripped by terror, saw not a single individual coming forward to contest for the coveted post of sarpanch (village head) or panch (village council member).   Despite the statewide excitement for the upcoming panchayat elections scheduled for October 15, Behbal Kalan remains an outlier. While several villages have selected their leaders through consensus, this village did not witness any nominations by the deadline of October 4. The root cause is believed to be the overwhelming influence of gangster Simma Behbal, whose name strikes fear into the hearts of villagers, preventing them from participating in the democratic process.   Notably, Simma Behbal intended to appoint his father as the village sarpanch. However, before the nomination process could begin, the police registered cases against Simma, his father, and several of their associates. This legal action disrupted Simmas plans, but the lingering fear among the villagers remained so strong that no one else was willing to step forward to file nomination papers.   Superintendent of Police (SP) Baljeet Singh Bhullar explained that the police had earlier received reports of Simma holding a meeting to discuss his fathers candidature. When officers arrived at the scene, Simma and his group engaged in a heated confrontation, and though Simma managed to escape, two of his associates were arrested. Weapons were also recovered from the scene. This incident has only deepened the sense of fear in Behbal Kalan, where residents now feel even more intimidated by Simmas criminal network.   SP Bhullar assured that the police had made extensive security arrangements for the nomination process, with officers stationed at all key locations to protect those participating in the elections. However, no one in Behbal Kalan came forward. The civil administration may have more insight into why no nominations were filed, SP Bhullar stated, acknowledging the tense atmosphere in the village but refraining from explicitly attributing the election void to Simmas influence.   Simma Behbal, categorized as an A-category gangster, has more than 20 serious criminal cases against him in Faridkot and other districts. Although currently out on bail, his return to the village has rekindled fear among the residents, many of whom are reluctant to cross him. Simmas ultimate goal of securing his fathers position as sarpanch has left the village in a political deadlock, with no one willing to challenge his control over the community.   A previous incident in which Simma informally declared his father as sarpanch during a gathering of villagers has only added to the intimidation. No official complaints were made to the police, as residents fear retribution. The village continues to live under the shadow of Simmas criminal past, with the absence of panchayat candidates reflecting the deep-rooted fear that has stifled their civic participation.

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