Elderly man succumbed to death in Kolkata's NRS Hospital, family blames it on SIR panic

In North 24 Parganas' Duttapukur, where the hum of daily life meets the quiet worries of long-time border dwellers, an elderly man's world crumbled under the invisible weight of fear, turning West Bengal's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive into a grim tale. Jiya Ali, a resident of Chaturia area of North 24 parganas district's Duttapukur with his name already listed in the 2002 voter rolls, Aadhaar card in hand, and even the fresh SIR enumeration form delivered by the BLO, couldn't shake the nagging dread that the routine checks might label him an outsider and whisk him back to Bangladesh—a land he fled decades ago.

His family blames the death on SIR panic. Despite all documents in perfect order, the relentless whispers of "what if" gripped him, spiraling into sleepless nights and a sudden brainstroke that first landed him at Barasat Medical College, then a transfer to Kolkata's NRS Medical College and Hospital, where he breathed his last today. The family's anguish cuts deep with family says that his father used to say they won't send me to Bangladesh, will they?—a fear that gripped him creating further impact to death, says family.

SIR kicked off weeks ago, with BLOs nearly wrapping up form distribution statewide, yet the air thickens with unresolved doubts. As news of this death mingles with Jalpaiguri's fresh accusation, the real battle is for residents, urging calmer outreach to ease the terror gripping Bengal's fringes. Authorities face calls for clearer guidelines, helplines for the anxious, and a gentle touch in border zones where history lingers like fog. In the end, it's a plea wrapped in pain: verify with care, because every unchecked fear can claim another life.