Hundreds of voter cards found in man’s bag in Kalyani raising questions ahead of SIR

In Kalyani, West Bengal, police recovered over 100 voter cards from a man’s bag on Friday, sparking an uproar ahead of the upcoming electoral roll revision (SIR). The suspect, identified as Uttam Prasad from Hindmotor in Hooghly district, was apprehended by locals in Madhya Char area of Ward No. 7 after two youths noticed him acting suspiciously. Among the recovered cards, three belonged to Assam, while the rest were from different wards in Kalyani.

Prasad told police that he had found the voter cards buried under grass while walking on the road and kept them with him. Authorities are investigating whether the cards are genuine and how such a large number came to be on the roadside. The District Magistrate has been asked by State Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal to submit a detailed report on the incident.

The discovery has raised political tensions ahead of SIR in Bengal. BJP MLA Ambika Roy questioned the origin of the cards, warning about potential misuse in secret ballots, while Kalyani Trinamool leader Biplab De Sajal denied any involvement by party workers, calling the incident an attempt to create unrest.

Police continue to question Prasad, and the investigation is ongoing to determine the source and authenticity of the voter cards. The incident has fueled debates about electoral preparedness and voter security in the state