A 63-year-old former railway employee tragically passed away after suffering a heart attack while attending a hearing related to the voters' list in Barrackpore. The incident occurred on Wednesday at the Block Development Office, casting a spotlight on the procedures surrounding electoral roll revisions.
Details of the Tragic Incident
The deceased has been identified as Ratna Chakraborty (63), a resident of Booth 77 under Jethia gram panchayat in the Naihati assembly constituency. According to local reports, she was summoned for a Summary Revision of Rolls (SIR) hearing because her name was missing from the draft electoral list.
Sunil Sajjan, a local BLA, stated that Chakraborty was at the Barrackpore-II BDO office in Panpur for the hearing when she suddenly felt unwell and collapsed due to the cardiac arrest.
Allegations of Harassment and Mental Stress
Family members and local politicians have blamed the incident on the immense mental pressure exerted by the hearing process. Chakraborty's relatives claimed she was under extreme mental stress after receiving the hearing notice.
Samir Chakraborty, a relative, explained, "She was a former central government employee and possessed all the necessary documents. However, since her name was absent from the 2002 voters' list, she was called for the hearing. The mental pressure ultimately proved fatal."
Echoing these sentiments, Naihati MLA Sanat Dey alleged that Chakraborty panicked after being questioned during the proceeding, which led to her collapse. "She fell ill after being interrogated at the hearing," the MLA said.
Political Reactions and Broader Implications
The incident quickly drew sharp political reactions. Barrackpore MP Partha Bhowmik strongly criticized the Election Commission, stating, "One more life was lost due to the Election Commission's oppression. People are being harassed in the name of SIR hearings."
This tragic event raises serious questions about the conduct and human impact of administrative processes involved in voter list revisions, particularly on elderly citizens.
The death of Ratna Chakraborty has sparked a debate on whether the procedures meant to ensure electoral integrity are causing undue distress to ordinary citizens, leading to calls for a more empathetic and stress-free system.
