Another SIR death in Bengal! 'Under trial' man dies in South Dinajpur

Tragedy struck the Ishwarpara area in South Dinajpur’s Hili block as 68-year-old Chandicharan Barman passed away at Balurghat District Hospital on Sunday morning. His family and local leaders allege that the death was caused by extreme mental stress following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. According to his relatives, although Chandicharan’s name appeared in the final list published on February 28, he was deeply traumatized because his elder son's name was deleted and his younger son’s name was marked as "under trial."

The elderly farmer, who reportedly had no prior history of serious illness, suffered his first heart attack just a day after the voter list was made public. After a brief hospital stay, he returned home but suffered a second, fatal cardiac arrest on Saturday night. His sons, who are currently working abroad, had been summoned for hearings regarding their citizenship documentation, a situation that reportedly left Chandicharan in a state of constant panic and fear regarding his children's future in the country.

The incident has triggered a fierce political blame game. Trinamool Congress leader Arpita Ghosh visited the hospital and the bereaved family, accusing the BJP and the Election Commission of unleashing a "reign of terror" through the SIR process. She claimed that the harassment of common citizens over voter lists is leading to physical and mental breakdowns. The TMC has demanded that the Commission take full responsibility for the death, characterizing the revision process as a tool for voter suppression and intimidation.