A tragic incident unfolded in Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal, where a 57-year-old man passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest, with his family directly linking the death to anxiety surrounding the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls. The deceased, identified as Nibas Sarkar, was a resident of Tekatuli in Maynaguri.
Family Attributes Death to Voter List Anxiety
According to family members, Nibas Sarkar had been experiencing significant anxiety ever since his son, Anik, received a notice related to the SIR process. The family claims that while Nibas's name was not on the 2002 SIR list, his son had been summoned to prove his identity, creating substantial tension within the household.
"It was the tension over SIR that killed my father," stated Anik Sarkar, the deceased's son, expressing the family's conviction about the cause of the tragedy.
Medical Timeline of the Incident
The sequence of events began on Saturday night when Nibas Sarkar suffered the cardiac arrest. He was initially rushed to Maynaguri Hospital for emergency treatment. Due to the severity of his condition, he was subsequently transferred to Jalpaiguri Government Medical College and Hospital for advanced care.
Despite medical efforts, Nibas Sarkar breathed his last on Sunday morning, marking a devastating loss for his family and community.
Political Response and Similar Incidents
Local Trinamool Congress members visited Nibas Sarkar's residence on Sunday following the incident. Bablu Roy, the local panchayat pradhan, placed blame on the Election Commission for the death, highlighting the political dimensions of this personal tragedy.
This incident occurred less than twenty-four hours after another man died of cardiac arrest in Cooch Behar's Mathabhanga area, raising concerns about potential patterns of stress-related health issues during the voter revision process.
Broader Context of Voter Roll Revision
The Special Intensive Revision of voter lists is a crucial electoral process aimed at ensuring accurate voter registration. However, this case illustrates how administrative procedures can sometimes create unintended stress and anxiety among citizens, particularly when family members receive official notices requiring identity verification.
The incident has sparked discussions about the human impact of bureaucratic processes and the need for sensitivity in implementing voter registration drives, especially in regions where such procedures might cause apprehension among residents.
