Two separate deaths in West Bengal on New Year's Day have sparked controversy, with grieving families directly blaming the anxiety caused by the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls for triggering fatal heart attacks.
Incidents in Swarupnagar and Bishnupur
The tragic incidents occurred on Thursday, January 1, in two different districts. In Swarupnagar, located in North 24 Parganas, 60-year-old Sultan Sardar passed away. In Bishnupur, Bankura district, 55-year-old Rahima Bibi died. In both cases, the families insist that the stress and fear surrounding the SIR hearing process were the direct cause of death.
Sultan Sardar's Case in Swarupnagar
Sultan Sardar, a resident of Swarupda village, attended an SIR hearing at the Swarupnagar block office on December 27. His name was absent from the 2002 voters' list, a discrepancy that was highlighted during the proceedings. According to his cousin, Motiar Rehman, Sardar was informed of issues with his documents, which plunged him into severe mental stress from that day forward.
His wife, Dilwara Bibi, explained that her husband was a migrant labourer in 2002, which likely led to the omission of his name, even though his parents were listed. She recounted his despair after the hearing, quoting him: "At this age, where will I go leaving my children and family behind?" Sardar fell ill upon returning home and, after days of acute anxiety, suffered a fatal heart attack on Thursday morning.
His son, Osman, made a stark allegation: "My father died due to fear generated by the SIR exercise. This SIR must be stopped immediately. Otherwise, none of us will survive. We too will die."
Rahima Bibi's Case in Bishnupur
A parallel allegation emerged from Bishnupur's Ledger Ghat area. Rahima Bibi, who lived with her daughter and son-in-law, received a notice to attend an SIR hearing. Her daughter, Fatema Bibi, stated that Rahima's name was also missing from the 2002 electoral roll, leaving her unable to provide the required information on the SIR form.
"She was extremely anxious ever since she received the notice for the hearing. She had no documents to submit," Fatema said. Rahima Bibi was scheduled to appear for the hearing on Friday, January 2, but she died of a heart attack on Thursday morning, a day before her appointment.
Political Reaction and Calls for Protest
The incidents have drawn political attention. Bankura MP Arup Chakraborty commented that local panchayat members had tried to help Rahima Bibi arrange the necessary paperwork. "But she died of a heart attack even before appearing for the hearing," he stated. He added, "We will launch protests against such tragic deaths caused by unethical pressure from the Election Commission."
These events have raised serious questions about the implementation and human impact of the Special Intensive Revision process, highlighting the extreme psychological distress it can cause among vulnerable sections of the electorate.
