Two deaths allegedly connected to pressure from the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls occurred in West Bengal on Thursday. Officials confirmed the incidents, which have sparked concerns about the exercise's impact on individuals.
Booth-Level Officer Found Dead in Kolkata
Ashok Das, a booth-level officer and assistant teacher at Baharu High School in Joynagar, South 24 Parganas, was found hanging at his residence in Mukundapur, southern Kolkata. Police declared him brought dead at a private hospital.
His family members claimed he faced tremendous pressure due to SIR-related work. Das served as a BLO for Booth No. 110 at Chit Kalikapur FP School in Purba Jadavpur as part of the state's revision exercise.
Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma visited the residence and announced an investigation into the circumstances leading to the death.
Senior Citizen Dies of Heart Attack in Murshidabad
In a separate incident, 60-year-old Putu Sheikh from Rameswarpur Chachand village under Samserganj police station in Murshidabad district died of a heart attack. His family linked the death to anxiety over the electoral roll revision.
Family members stated that SIR hearing notices were issued to several household members. At least one notice allegedly contained an incorrect spelling of Sheikh's name. While other relatives attended the hearing, Sheikh remained at home and suffered the fatal heart attack.
Growing Toll of the Revision Exercise
Several deaths, including suicides, have been reported across West Bengal in recent weeks. Families and officials attribute these tragedies to anxiety triggered by the Special Intensive Revision.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee highlighted the issue in a January 12 letter to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. She stated the exercise has already resulted in 77 deaths, with 4 suicide attempts and 17 hospitalizations.
Banerjee attributed these casualties to fear, intimidation, and disproportionate workload caused by what she called an unplanned exercise undertaken by the Election Commission of India.
The incidents have raised questions about the implementation and human cost of the electoral roll revision in West Bengal.
