A tragic incident in West Bengal has sparked political outrage after a 40-year-old woman allegedly died by suicide, with her family claiming she was distressed by the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state.
Fear of being delisted led to extreme step
The deceased, identified as Mustara Khatun Kazi, lived alone and was unmarried. Her name was present in the 2022 voter list, but according to her family, she grew increasingly anxious over the possibility of being removed during the current revision exercise.
Police sources said Kazi set herself on fire on Friday night, succumbing to her injuries soon after. Her family has directly blamed the central government, alleging that the fear created by the SIR exercise pushed her to the edge.
‘I hold the central government responsible for her death. She was extremely scared about the SIR,’ said her cousin, Kazi Sabirul Islam.
Political reactions intensify
The incident has further escalated tensions in West Bengal, where the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has strongly opposed the SIR process.
TMC MP Sayoni Ghosh visited Kazi’s family in Purba Bardhaman district on Saturday night and blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for creating an atmosphere of fear.
The TMC has claimed that at least 40 people, including four Block Level Officers (BLOs), have died in the last month due to the pressure and distress caused by the voter list revision exercise.
EC identifies massive number of dead voters
As the first stage of the three-level SIR exercise nears completion, the Election Commission (EC) has identified 18.70 lakh dead voters still listed on Bengal’s electoral rolls as of November 29.
The discovery has intensified the EC’s efforts to clean up the voter list ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
TMC continues its sharp criticism
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has repeatedly condemned the SIR, calling it ‘votebandi.’ She has vowed to protect the rights of voters ‘at any cost,’ even saying she was ready to face extreme consequences for opposing the exercise.
The ruling party alleges the EC’s move is politically motivated and intended to alter the voter base in the state.
Opposition set to raise issue in parliament
The controversy is expected to spill over into the national arena as the Winter Session of Parliament begins on December 1. Opposition parties are likely to raise the issue, citing distress among citizens and recent deaths linked to the SIR exercise.
The situation continues to unfold as political tensions rise and investigations into the woman’s death proceed.
Disclaimer: The content discusses suicide and may be triggering for some readers. Suicides are preventable. If you need support, you can reach out to helplines such as Sumaitri (011-23389090) or the Sneha Foundation (044-24640050).
