A decorated Kargil war veteran, who was defending India's borders in Leh when the last major electoral roll revision happened in West Bengal, now finds himself among an estimated 32 lakh citizens struggling to reclaim their fundamental voting rights. This situation has sparked outrage and highlighted systemic issues in the voter registration process for those in service of the nation.
The Long Queue for a Soldier's Right
Sanjib Bhattacharya, 64, a former Indian Army jawan who served from 1980 to 2006, stood in a queue at the Barasat Block-I office this Wednesday. He carried documents to prove his identity and residence for a hearing. His name was omitted from the voters' list during the last Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in 2002 because he was posted near Tiger Hill during the 1999 Kargil conflict and subsequently on border duty in Leh.
Bhattacharya served in the Army's famed Bofors unit and is classified as an 'unmapped voter'—a term used for those absent during the SIR. He was not alone in line. His two brothers, also Army veterans, faced the same predicament due to postings outside Bengal in 2002. Several other family members were also summoned for the hearing.
A Family's Harassment After a Lifetime of Service
"We three brothers, along with my daughters and nephews, were asked to appear for the hearing. We faced harassment because of this. But as former Army jawans, it is natural for us to follow rules," stated Bhattacharya. His daughters are well-established professionals—one a school teacher and the other in a managerial role at a private hospital—yet the entire family was dragged into the bureaucratic process.
The scene angered local residents in Barasat. Soumen Chakraborty, a neighbour, expressed collective shame: "Due to the nature of their work, they spent most of their lives outside their hometown. They finally returned home after retirement, only to face harassment. It is shameful to see people who protected the country stand in a queue to prove their citizenship and reclaim their voting rights."
Call for Dignity and Special Provisions
Local councillor Champak Das echoed the sentiment, calling the Bhattacharya brothers a point of pride for Barasat. He emphasized that the Election Commission should have made special arrangements for individuals like them, who were compelled by their jobs to be away from the state for extended periods. The final voters' list is scheduled for publication in February, making these hearings crucial for inclusion.
This incident underscores a broader challenge within the electoral system: adequately accounting for citizens in mobile professions, especially defence personnel. The plight of Sanjib Bhattacharya and his family has become a poignant symbol for the 32 lakh 'unmapped voters' across West Bengal, fighting a bureaucratic battle for a right they defended with their service.
