Bengal SIR scrutiny fear: 3 kill selves in 48 hours, another dies ‘in anxiety’

KOLKATA: As many as three who were under the shadow of SIR adjudication died by suicide over 48 hours in the state. Another died of health complications, with his family blaming SIR-related anxiety for the death.

Rafique Ali Gazi, a 44-year-old Magrahat van driver, hanged himself allegedly on Tuesday night after discovering that his name was marked as "under adjudication" in the final voter list published last Saturday. Rafique's wife Amina Bibi lodged a written complaint at Usti police station against the EC. The police initiated an investigation into the incident. Local TMC workers staged a protest with the body and blocked the Usti–Shirakol Road for some time on Wednesday.




In Jalpaiguri, as 62-year-old Gourango De died by suicide on Tuesday morning, his family claimed that he took the extreme out of extreme anxiety because of SIR. The family claimed that De had voted for over 40 years but, for some reason, his name did not feature in 2002 voter list. He attended hearings and submitted all related information, but his name was under adjudication in the final 2026 SIR list. De's body was found hanging in the bathroom of his house and cops took his body for an autopsy. De had applied online for re-registering his name on Monday.

In Malda, Harishchandrapur resident Hazera Biwi (43) died by consuming poison on Tuesday after she found her name under adjudication. The incident created a huge uproar at Shitalpur village on Tuesday.

State minister Tajmul Hossain, who visited Hazera's house on Wednesday, said: "The woman submitted all her papers and still found herself under adjudication. The EC cannot shirk the responsibility." Hossain's name is under adjudication.

BJP neta Amlan Bhaduri said, "TMC plays filthy political games over any death. Let the reason be found out."

In West Midnapore, Debra resident Krishna Pal (65) and his son Dipanjan's names were deleted from SIR list. According to his family, Krishna was shocked and felt unwell. He was taken to Debra superspecialty hospital on Monday. He died while being taken to Midnapore Medical College.

Debra MLA Humayun Kabir met the family on Wednesday and said he would speak to the BDO about the issue. Kabir blamed the Election Commission for the death.