A large number of school teachers in Alipurduar district have filed nominations in various gram panchayat seats allegedly to escape poll duties.

Nomination data suggests that nearly 200 of the 800-odd Independents who filed their nominations are teachers.

Some teachers are also looking at being polling agents of teacher candidates while others are trying to prove that they are “physically unfit” to perform poll duties.

Many teachers this newspaper spoke to maintain that they were scared of rural poll-related violence given their experience in 2018.

“Polls are being conducted on a single day across the state. We are not sure if sufficient security personnel will be available across the state on a single day,” explained a teacher.

Calcutta High Court, however, has ordered central forces be deployed in all districts.

In Alipurduar district there are 63 gram panchayats with 200-odd booths spread across six blocks.

Prasenjit Roy, district secretary, All Bengal Primary Teacher Association said: “It is true that teachers are trying to escape poll duty as they are often ill-treated (by supporters of local parties) during poll duties. Violence was reported during the 2018 election and one teacher had also died while away on poll duties.”

A candidate has to deposit Rs 1000 if they are contesting for a zilla parishad seat, Rs 500 for panchayat samiti and Rs 150 for a gram panchayat. The sum is half for women, ST, SC, OBC and differently abled candidates.

“All teachers filed nomination for gram panchayat seats,” said a source.