Six Bengal Deaths Linked to Electoral Roll Revision Panic
Six people died across five districts of West Bengal in the past twenty-four hours. Authorities report these deaths connect to panic surrounding the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The districts involved include North 24 Parganas, Nadia, Birbhum, Purulia, and West Burdwan.
Details of the Tragic Incidents
Five individuals allegedly died by suicide. One person suffered a fatal heart attack. Families in every case directly blame anxiety from SIR notices and scheduled hearings for these tragic outcomes.
In Hingalganj, located in North 24 Parganas, a sixty-two-year-old man named Shoaib Sheikh died from a heart attack on Monday morning. His family states he felt extreme anxiety over SIR hearing notices issued to his children. His son, a migrant worker in another state, could not return for the hearing. This situation reportedly caused Shoaib significant distress.
"My brother, Abdul Rahman, and I received notices for the hearing," explained Anjura Bibi, Shoaib's daughter. "Since my brother could not come from outside the state, my father was under severe stress for several days. Despite our reassurances, the fear of SIR led to my father's death."
Cases of Suicide Reported
Another case emerged from Amdanga in the same district. Sixty-six-year-old Mansur Ali Mondal allegedly died by suicide after receiving an SIR hearing notice. His nephew, Sheikh Sabir Ali, described the situation.
"He was extremely anxious since he did not have the necessary papers to submit," said Ali. "On Sunday night, before the scheduled hearing on Monday, he hanged himself."
In Nadia's Hogolberia area, a fifty-four-year-old private tutor named Fujir Khan allegedly took his own life. He panicked after receiving an SIR notice issued in his wife's name. Family members revealed the notice cited discrepancies like spelling errors. This triggered fears of possible deportation.
"Fujir panicked, fearing that his wife might be deported to Bangladesh," a family member stated. Doctors at Karimpur Rural Hospital declared him dead after he was rushed there.
Widespread Fear and Anxiety
In Birbhum's Rampurhat, a man named Johnny Sheikh allegedly died by suicide on Sunday night. His family claims fear of possible SIR notices in his ward drove him to this step. They reported hearing that notices had been issued to one hundred seventy-one residents in the area.
In Asansol's Salanpur block, within West Burdwan, a seventy-year-old retired railway employee named Narayan Chandra Sengupta allegedly died by suicide. He discovered that his name and his daughter's name were missing from the draft electoral roll.
"When Narayan did not come down for a long time, the family called out to him," said his neighbour, Prince Das. "Receiving no response, they went upstairs and found him hanging from the ceiling fan hook."
In Purulia's Manbazar area, a thirty-two-year-old man named Debraj Orang allegedly died by suicide ahead of his scheduled SIR hearing. His wife, Bhanumati Orang, shared her husband's worries.
"My husband was worried after receiving the notice," said Bhanumati. "He feared his name would be removed from the electoral roll."
These incidents highlight the severe anxiety and panic the Special Intensive Revision process has generated among residents in these Bengal districts.
