Tragedy struck twice in West Bengal over the weekend, with two separate deaths linked to the stress and proceedings of Summary Revision of Electoral Rolls (SIR) hearings. In Bongaon, a man died after attempting suicide allegedly due to fear of the hearing, while in Rampurhat, a retired school teacher collapsed and died at the hearing venue.
Bongaon Man's Suicide Over Voter List Fear
In a distressing incident from Beledanga, Gopalnagar, Balai Das, aged 50, ended his life on Saturday. The sequence of events began on Friday when Das, reportedly terrified about an impending SIR hearing scheduled for that day, consumed poison. His family revealed that he had received a summon because his name was missing from the 2002 voter list, and he was deeply anxious about the potential outcome.
After consuming poison, Das was first rushed to the Bongaon Subdivision Hospital. Given his critical condition, he was later transferred to RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries on Saturday.
Retired Teacher Collapses at Rampurhat Hearing
In a separate but equally tragic event in Birbhum district, Kanchan Kumar Mondal, a 75-year-old retired high school teacher, passed away on Saturday. Mondal, a resident of ward 13 under the Rampurhat Municipality area, had gone to the Rampurhat-1 Block office for an SIR hearing, accompanied by his family members. His daughter is a state government employee.
Eyewitnesses stated that Mondal fell ill while waiting for his turn at the hearing. After he collapsed on the spot, the Block Development Officer (BDO) offered his personal car to rush him to the Rampurhat hospital. Unfortunately, doctors at the hospital declared him dead upon arrival.
A Pattern of Distress Emerges
These back-to-back incidents have cast a stark light on the immense pressure and anxiety surrounding the electoral roll revision process for some citizens. Both cases highlight individuals facing the SIR hearing mechanism—one out of fear for the result, and another during the physical strain of the proceedings itself.
The death of Balai Das points to the severe mental anguish the process can induce, especially for those whose longstanding documentation is under scrutiny. The passing of Kanchan Kumar Mondal, meanwhile, underscores the physical toll that long waits and stressful environments at government offices can take, particularly on the elderly.
While the direct causes of death differ, both tragedies are inextricably linked to their participation in the ongoing SIR hearings, raising serious questions about the support and environment provided to citizens during such administrative exercises.
