A seventy-five-year-old woman from Baduria in North 24 Parganas passed away on Monday. Her death followed a cerebral attack she suffered on January 7. Family members strongly believe severe mental stress triggered by a SIR hearing led to her demise.
Family Alleges Hearing Caused Fatal Stress
Anita Biswas lived in Shimulta Durgapur. Officials summoned her to the Baduria BDO office on January 5. They discovered her name was missing from the 2002 SIR list. She attended the hearing that day.
Two days later, on January 7, she suffered a stroke. She later died at Basirhat District Hospital. Her son, Kashinath Biswas, shared distressing details.
Son Recounts Mother's Anxiety
"She had been a voter since 1995," Kashinath stated. "Yet, she was the only family member absent from the 2002 voters' list. During the hearing, she could not answer some official questions properly. This made her extremely anxious."
He described her fear after returning home. "She kept saying they would send her to jail. We tried to reassure her, but she suffered the stroke on January 7."
Daughter Cites Health Conditions and Pressure
Anita's daughter, Soma Haldar, explained further. "She possessed all the necessary documents. But she became extremely anxious. She already had a heart condition. The additional mental pressure proved fatal."
Political Reactions Emerge
Local Trinamool Congress leaders met with Anita's kin. They condemned the situation. The netas stated BJP's "politics of suspicion and intimidation" had crossed all moral limits. They directly accused the Election Commission of harassment in this case.
The incident highlights the intense pressure surrounding electoral verification processes. It raises serious questions about the treatment of elderly citizens during such official hearings.
