63-year-old woman dies of heart attack while waiting in SIR hearing line in Naihati

A 63-year-old retired railway employee, Ratna Chakraborty, died of a suspected heart attack while attending an election-related hearing at the Barrackpore No. 1 Block Development Officer's (BDO) office. The resident of Naihati had been summoned by the Election Commission of India under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) campaign. The notice informed her that her name was missing from the 2002 reference voter list and required her to present original documents for verification.

According to her family, Ratna had been under immense mental pressure since receiving the notice. Despite having submitted the necessary documents to the commission previously, the requirement for a physical appearance at her age proved to be a significant stressor. Shortly after reaching the BDO office, she complained of severe chest pain and collapsed. Though her son and daughter-in-law rushed her to the Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Kalyani, doctors declared her dead on arrival.

The incident has sparked outrage among locals and political leaders over the "harassment" of senior citizens during administrative procedures. Relatives alleged that the anxiety of losing her voting rights—a basic pillar of citizenship—was the primary cause of her deteriorating health. Local Trinamool Congress leaders, including MP Partha Bhowmik and MLA Sanat Dey, visited the bereaved family, assuring them of support while questioning the rigorous nature of the SIR process.