Woman dies after setting herself on fire in Bardhaman, family blames it on SIR panic

A quiet village named Bhumshor in Purba Bardhaman district got shockwaves today when Mustora Khatoon Kazi, a middle-aged unmarried woman from under Bhatar police station area, set herself on fire. Family members found her in flames, rushed her to Bhatar Block Hospital, but doctors declared her dead on arrival. Locals and family say she was gripped by extreme fear ever since the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists process began—even though her name and her family’s names were safely on the 2002 voter list and officials had assured them there was nothing to worry about.

Mustora used to stay with with relatives after losing her parents years long time ago. Her brother works as a migrant labourer outside the state, and her sisters are married. Everyone tried to calm her down. She had even submitted her SIR form yesterday still the panic refused to leave her. “We kept telling her she was safe, but the rumours and tension were too much for her,” said a grieving family member. Gram Panchayat member Saidul Haq confirmed repeated assurances were given, but the constant talk of “verification” and “deletion” had broken her mentally.

Bhatar MLA Mangobinda Adhikari visited the family and promised full support while warning of protests against the Election Commission’s “unplanned” SIR drive. As per reports TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee has stayed in touch with the family, and Jadavpur MP Sayani Ghosh is scheduled to visit today evening. Burdwan Police have started an investigation and sent the body for post-mortem. The incident has sent shockwaves across the area and added fresh fuel to the growing anger over the voter list revision process.