Kolkata, Jan 6 (PTI) Two men in West Bengal died on Tuesday, with families alleging that stress over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls contributed to their deaths.
Malin Roy (55) from Boro Haldibari in Cooch Behar, suffered a stroke and died at Jalpaiguri Super Speciality Hospital, his family members said, adding that the deceased had been anxious since his SIR hearing on December 31, after his name was found missing from the 2002 electoral list.
Earlier in the day, a 57-year-old Mohammad Khadem of Chunabhatti near Siliguri was found dead near an abandoned police quarters in Fulbari.
His relatives said he had been under severe mental stress following his SIR hearing.
The body has been sent for post-mortem, and police have launched an investigation, an officer said.
Siliguri Mayor Gautam Deb visited the family and assured the support of the administration.
The ruling TMC late last month alleged that over 50 lives have been lost “to panic, anxiety, exhaustion and fear engineered by a voter-cleansing operation designed for BJP’s electoral gain”.
The SIR exercise began in the state on November 4.
TMC MP Derek O’Brien on Tuesday filed an application in the Supreme Court alleging arbitrariness and procedural irregularities in the SIR in West Bengal, a day after party supremo Mamata Banerjee announced a move in this regard.
BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, however, said, “the SIR is a routine administrative process overseen by the Election Commission and is essential to ensure the integrity of electoral rolls.” PTI SCH BDC NN
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