The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal has been marred by tragedy and widespread distress, with reports of three elderly deaths and a pregnant woman collapsing, all linked to the anxiety surrounding the hearing process.
Tragic Deaths Linked to Hearing Notices
In a shocking incident in Purulia, 82-year-old Durjan Majhi jumped in front of a train on Monday morning, just hours before he was scheduled to appear for an SIR hearing at the Para BDO office. His son, Kanai, revealed that his father had been deeply anxious since receiving the notice on December 25, despite his name being on the 2002 voters' list.
In a separate case in Howrah, 75-year-old Jamat Ali passed away at his home in Amta on Sunday night, shortly after receiving a hearing notice. District Magistrate P Deepap Priya confirmed an inquiry is ongoing, acknowledging family claims that anxiety over the hearing contributed to his death.
The toll extended to Kalyani, where 72-year-old Jaharlal Mahato suffered a fatal cardiac arrest on Monday, two days after attending an SIR hearing. His son stated that Mahato had been visibly distressed following the hearing, questioning why he was summoned when his name existed on the 2002 list.
Elderly and Infirm Face Harrowing Ordeals
Across the state, elderly citizens faced immense physical hardship to comply with the hearings. In Cooch Behar, 96-year-old Nikhil Chandra Sarkar, aided by his wife and son, struggled to reach the Dinhata Block 1 BDO office due to age-related ailments. He expressed frustration at the process, having submitted all documents despite his name not being on the 2002 list.
At the Katwa I BDO office, the situation was equally grim. 90-year-old Muktibala Paramanik, who is bedridden, was transported 4 kilometers to the venue. Her grandson condemned the exercise as sheer harassment, stating officials merely had her sign documents before letting her go.
Despite these scenes, East Burdwan DM Ayesha Rani noted that no written instructions mandated home visits for the elderly, though she had issued orders not to call the aged and infirm.
Pregnant Woman Collapses, Young Mother Struggles
The distress was not limited to the elderly. In Basirhat, Supriya Mondal, who is eight months pregnant, collapsed after waiting in a long queue at the Block II BDO office. Her mother, Khukurani Das, highlighted the danger of making a heavily pregnant woman stand for hours.
In central Kolkata, a young mother arrived for a hearing with her three-month-old infant. Her husband, Md Hussain, explained the summons resulted from a clerical mismatch—his wife had accidentally entered details from a 2025 voter ID instead of the 2002 SIR roll during enumeration.
Election Commission's Clarification and Public Outcry
Amid growing criticism, the Election Commission issued a clarification. It stated that, upon request, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) would visit the homes of voters aged 85 and above, as well as those with disabilities and serious ailments, to conduct the hearings.
However, the damage was already done. The incidents have sparked a major public outcry, raising serious questions about the planning and sensitivity of the SIR process, especially concerning vulnerable sections of society. The reports of anxiety among "unmapped" voters called for hearings underscore a systemic communication gap and a process perceived as intimidating rather than facilitative.
