A 62-year-old man from Howrah died of a cerebral attack shortly after attending a hearing related to the voter list, with his family and local political leaders alleging that the stress and harassment he faced during the proceedings led to the tragedy.
What Happened During the Hearing?
Madan Ghosh, a resident of Liluah in Howrah, attended a Summary Revision (SIR) hearing for the voter list. According to police and family accounts, the elderly man became extremely anxious during the interrogation. His family claimed that officials repeatedly pressured him to provide a birth certificate, stating that his name would be struck off the final voter list without it.
Despite having voted in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and having his name on the 2002 voter list, Madan did not possess a birth certificate as he was born at home. The family stated he was asked to furnish a school certificate instead. The continuous questioning over documents allegedly caused him to panic and break into a sweat.
The Fatal Collapse and Aftermath
While on his way to make a photocopy of another document near the Bally-Jagachha BDO office in Domjur, Madan Ghosh fainted, injuring his head in the fall. He was rushed to the Howrah District Hospital by police and a relative. Unfortunately, he succumbed to his condition within an hour of receiving treatment.
His relative, Hari Prasad Ghosh, asserted that Madan was otherwise healthy and that the cerebral attack was triggered solely by intense fear. The Howrah police confirmed the death was due to a cerebral attack following the fainting episode.
Political Reaction and Broader Allegations
The Howrah Trinamool Congress and the victim's family have squarely blamed the election officials for the incident. Trinamool leader Masood Guddu Khan provided background, explaining that Madan's family originally came from Bangladesh after the partition and settled in Liluah.
Minister Arup Roy cited another instance where a 93-year-old woman was allegedly forced to climb stairs for a similar hearing in the cold. He blamed the Election Commission (EC) for such deaths, calling the processes insensitive. Attempts to get a comment from Howrah District Magistrate and returning officer P. Deepa Priya were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
The incident has sparked a debate about the conduct of voter list revision hearings and the treatment of elderly citizens, especially those with documentation challenges stemming from historical circumstances.
