West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee warns of a hidden crisis: over 110 people have reportedly died, with 3–4 suicides daily, allegedly linked to the SIR electoral roll exercise. What’s triggering such widespread fear in the state?
Mamata Banerjee said more than 110 people have already died
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday alleged that anxiety and stress caused by the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has led to three to four suicides every day in the state.
Addressing a programme at Red Road in Kolkata on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Banerjee said the Election Commission and the Central Government must take responsibility for the reported deaths.
According to the chief minister, the scale of distress among the public has reached alarming levels. “More than 110 people have already died. Every day, three to four people are dying by suicide due to SIR-related anxiety,” she claimed while speaking to the gathering.
The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls is currently underway in West Bengal ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. The process involves verification and hearings at designated camps, where voters are required to establish eligibility and address discrepancies in electoral records.
Mamata Banerjee alleges 3-4 people dying by suicide in Bengal everyday due to SIR anxiety@MamataOfficial #SIR #westbengalSIR
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Banerjee alleged that the manner in which the exercise is being conducted has caused widespread panic, particularly among the elderly and marginalised sections. She said people are being forced to wait for long hours often five to six hours in the open at SIR camps, adding to their physical and mental distress.
The chief minister also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of conspiring against West Bengal through the SIR exercise. She claimed that the process is being used as a political tool to harass residents and undermine democratic participation in the state.
Banerjee further alleged that issues are being raised over long-accepted surnames and identities of Bengali citizens. “Citing so-called discrepancies, they are questioning names and surnames that have been accepted for generations,” she said, criticising the Election Commission’s approach.
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During her address, Banerjee said that national icons such as Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, Subhas Chandra Bose and B R Ambedkar were being disrespected in the current political climate. She linked this alleged disrespect to what she described as an assault on Bengal’s identity and values.
Earlier in the week, while inaugurating the 49th International Kolkata Book Fair, Banerjee reiterated her claims regarding SIR-related deaths. She also announced the release of her 162nd book at the fair, a compilation of 26 poems highlighting the pain and suffering of people affected by the electoral revision process.
The chief minister demanded immediate intervention and accountability from the Election Commission and the Centre, urging them to reconsider the execution of the SIR exercise to prevent further distress among the public.
