Two unnatural deaths in North Bengal Linked to Stress Over SIR Process

Sanchita Aich Bag, MP,  6 Jan 2026, Siliguri : A 57-year-old man allegedly died by suicide in Fulbari, with his family claiming that fear linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list drove him to take the extreme step.

The deceased has been identified as Mohammad Khadem, a resident of the Chunabhati area in Fulbari. According to family sources, the names of Khadem and four other family members were missing from the draft SIR list as their names did not appear in the 2002 voter list. As a result, all five had to appear for a hearing and submit relevant documents. Despite attending the hearing and submitting papers, Khadem reportedly remained under severe mental stress.

On Monday evening, he went missing, prompting a search by family members. On Tuesday morning, locals found his body hanging from a tree near his house. Police from New Jalpaiguri Police Station recovered the body and sent it to North Bengal Medical College and Hospital for post-mortem.

Khadem’s son Mohammad Sayed said: “My father was under constant stress due to the SIR issue. Even after the hearing, he remained frightened. We believe this fear drove him to take his own life.”

Following the incident, Siliguri Mayor Gautam Deb visited the bereaved family. Expressing condolences, the mayor claimed that this was the fifth death in Jalpaiguri district linked to SIR-related fear. “The Election Commission must take responsibility. Conducting the SIR process within such a short time has created widespread panic. If it had been done in a phased and humane manner, such incidents might have been avoided,” Deb said.

In a separate incident highlighting alleged harassment during the SIR process, a 77-year-old man fell ill while attending a hearing in Siliguri. The elderly man, identified as Himangshu Mohan Das, became unwell on Monday during a hearing at Netaji Boys’ High School. Abhaya Basu, councillor of Ward No. 20, alleged that the senior citizen fell sick due to stress and harassment during the process.

“People are facing harassment due to this hearing system. Those who worked outside the state are facing the most difficulties. Forcing a 77-year-old man to wait for hours is extremely unfortunate,” she added. Das had served in a government job in Arunachal Pradesh for several years and returned to settle permanently in Siliguri after retirement in 2007. Due to his long association with another state, he reportedly faced complications during the hearing.

Private Tutor Commits Suicide Amid SIR Anxiety in Dinhata

Shashikesh Roy, MP, 6 Jan 2026, Cooch Behar: The suicide of a 45-year-old private tutor in Falimari area of Dinhata has triggered widespread concern, with the family alleging that anxiety over corrections under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls drove him to take the extreme step.

The deceased has been identified as Subhash Barman, a private tutor by profession. According to his father Shashikanta Barman, Subhash had been under “severe mental stress” over an error in his wife’s voter documents.

“His wife’s SIR record mistakenly mentioned his grandfather’s name instead of his father’s. He was deeply worried about the future of his two minor children and feared that his wife could be sent to Bangladesh or placed in a detention camp,” he said.

Local Booth Level Officer Mousumi Parvin (Booth No. 6/272) stated that there was no discrepancy in Subhash Barman’s own records. “The issue was limited to his wife’s name in the 2002 voter list. I assured him that the mistake could be corrected, but he appeared to be under extreme mental pressure,” she said.

Cooch Behar MP Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia visited the bereaved family and termed the incident tragic. “Across Bengal, innocent lives are being lost due to the inhumane process adopted by the Election Commission. Subhash Barman, an educated young man, died out of fear stemming from a minor clerical error,” he alleged.

However, BJP Cooch Behar district vice-president Biraj Bose dismissed any direct link between the suicide and SIR. “All deaths are unfortunate, but there is no evidence that this incident was related to SIR, as no notice was issued. The Trinamool MP should refrain from making irresponsible statements,” he said.

Meanwhile, police and administrative authorities have launched an investigation. Officials said the exact reason behind the suicide is yet to be ascertained.

Courtesy & source: Millennium Post