A second death in West Bengal is being linked to fears surrounding the upcoming Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with family members claiming the deceased took his own life due to anxieties about the process. Kshitish Majumdar, a 95-year-old man from Paschim Medinipur district, was found dead at his daughter's residence in Illambazar, Birbhum district, on Wednesday night.
His family alleges that Majumdar was deeply distressed by the prospect of the SIR, which is scheduled to begin on November 4. They claim he was particularly worried because his name was missing from the 2002 electoral rolls. According to family members, this led to fears that he would be deported to Bangladesh, from where he had moved to India many years ago. "He was afraid of being deported to Bangladesh. He was scared of what would happen to him if he were sent to Bangladesh at this old age," said his granddaughter, Nirmala.
Police have registered a case of unnatural death and are investigating the circumstances. While police confirmed that Majumdar's body was found hanging at his daughter's home, they stated that no suicide note has been found. Superintendent of Police (Birbhum) Amandeep said, "We have come to know that the cause of suicide is the panic over the SIR. However, no written complaint has been lodged with us". Initial investigations revealed that Majumdar was listed on voter rolls and had voted in multiple elections. Despite this, constant warnings from neighbors that those not on the 2002 list would be sent back to Bangladesh reportedly heightened his anxiety.
This incident follows the alleged suicide of Pradeep Kar, a 57-year-old man from Panihati, North 24 Parganas district, whose death has also been attributed to fears surrounding the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the upcoming SIR. Kar reportedly left a suicide note expressing his depression and stress over the NRC and SIR. Furthermore, a farmer in Cooch Behar allegedly attempted suicide, fearing his name would be deleted from the voter list due to a spelling error. Khairul Sheikh, who is admitted to the ICU, said he drank poison fearing his name would be deleted from the voters' list in the SIR because of a spelling error.
These incidents have sparked a political controversy in West Bengal. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has condemned the deaths and the suicide attempt, blaming the BJP's "politics of fear, division and hate" for creating an atmosphere of panic. She has accused the BJP of using the NRC and SIR to instill fear among citizens for political gain and reiterated that her government would not allow the NRC to be implemented in West Bengal. "We are witnessing the tragic consequences of BJP's politics of fear, division and hate," Banerjee posted on X.
The BJP, in turn, has accused Banerjee of deliberately spreading panic for political purposes. The Election Commission has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incidents. The SIR is scheduled to commence on November 4 across West Bengal. The exercise aims to revise and update the electoral rolls. However, concerns remain about the potential impact of the revision process on vulnerable populations and the overall socio-political climate in the state.
