Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has intensified her criticism of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies following the alleged suicide of a 95-year-old man from Birbhum district. His family has connected his death to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll, citing his fear of losing his land and property due to his name not appearing in the 2002 electoral roll.
This incident marks the second suicide reportedly linked to the Election Commission of India’s planned electoral roll exercise in West Bengal. Banerjee stated on X that the BJP and its associates were responsible for fostering a climate of fear, leading to these “avoidable, politically inflicted tragedies.” She detailed previous cases, including the suicide of a 57-year-old from Khardaha, North 24 Parganas, who cited the NRC as the cause of death, and a 63-year-old from Dinhata, Cooch Behar, who attempted suicide due to fear of harassment under the SIR process.
Banerjee questioned who would be held accountable for these outcomes and whether the Union Home Minister and the BJP allies would accept responsibility for the widespread fear psychosis.
Local authorities in Birbhum reported finding the 95-year-old man hanging in his bedroom. Neighbours mentioned he had migrated from Bangladesh over 30 years ago. The series of deaths and suicide attempts has intensified the debate surrounding the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), particularly in the lead-up to the 2026 assembly polls.
The BJP found itself in a difficult position as the victims were reportedly Hindu, contrary to their claims that the SIR exercise would primarily identify Muslim Bangladeshi infiltrators. While a census has not been conducted since 2011, the state’s population is estimated to be around 100 million.
Responding to Banerjee’s allegations, former West Bengal BJP president Rahul Sinha suggested that the Birbhum man’s suicide might have stemmed from family disputes or financial issues, accusing Banerjee of spreading lies to create panic. BJP national IT unit chief Amit Malviya argued that the deceased, being Hindu, would have been protected by the CAA and had no reason to fear the SIR process. He also pointed out that the man lived in a TMC stronghold where local leaders allegedly engage in harassment.
The family of the first victim, from North 24 Parganas, filed a police complaint alleging provocation. Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee had previously held Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar responsible for the deaths, and the TMC organized a protest rally.
The Chief Minister reiterated her stance, expressing that the people of Bengal, who have lived with dignity for generations, are now questioning their belonging. She vowed that the state government would not allow the NRC to be implemented in Bengal and would protect every legitimate citizen from being branded an ‘outsider’.
Meanwhile, TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh alleged that thousands of names from the 2002 electoral roll have vanished, urging citizens to remain vigilant against alleged “silent rigging” by the BJP.
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