A 95-year-old man's tragic death in West Bengal has become the first casualty linked to the ongoing Special Summary Revision (SSR) of electoral rolls, raising serious questions about the process and its human impact. Kshitish Majumdar, a resident of Midnapore, died by suicide at his daughter's home in Birbhum on October 30, a day after the Election Commission announced the SSR rollout in the state.
A Death Blamed on the Voter List Review
Kshitish Majumdar's name appeared on the draft SSR list marked as a deceased voter. His grandson, 23-year-old Pradip, who now lives in the family's Midnapore home, revealed that his own name is also on the draft roll, and he has not received any hearing notice. The family had submitted SSR forms in the names of Kshitish, his mother, and Pradip, duly informing authorities about the deaths of the elder two. Despite this, the published draft listed Kshitish as deceased.
Pradip, who has been living alone since his grandfather's death, stated that his name appears at serial number 441 in booth 152. The family alleges that Kshitish, who migrated from Barisal in Bangladesh to India around 40 years ago, was terrified at the prospect of "being pushed back to Bangladesh or sent to detention camps" due to his advanced age and because his name was not on the 2002 SSR list.
Widespread Fear Grips Migrant Community
The fear experienced by Kshitish Majumdar is not an isolated case. In the Tolapara locality of Midnapore's ward 1, where he lived, approximately 100 families from booths 152, 153, and 154 have received hearing letters from the SSR authorities. These families, who fled from Bangladesh during periods of riot and took refuge in Midnapore town over 15 to 20 years ago, now live in a state of anxiety.
Although they possess voter ID and Aadhaar cards—which led to them receiving the notices—they lack other local documentation. Upon receiving the hearing notices, a pall of fear and silence has descended upon the community. Many have expressed that they have nowhere else to go and have appealed to the government to arrange for their stay, highlighting their precarious situation.
Official Stance and the Road Ahead
Sub-Divisional Officer Madhumita Mukherjee confirmed that notices were sent to these families as part of the due process. She clarified that, as per Election Commission rules, if individuals cannot provide the necessary documents to substantiate their citizenship claims, their names will not be included in the final voter list. This official procedure, while legally mandated, has sparked deep distress within communities that have lived in India for decades.
The death of Kshitish Majumdar underscores the profound human cost and anxiety surrounding bureaucratic processes like the SSR. It brings to the fore the urgent need for sensitive and clear communication from authorities to prevent misinformation and panic, especially among elderly and vulnerable sections of society who have lived through displacement and uncertainty.
