Kolkata: The government of Trinamool Congress-led West Bengal has declared that 39 people have died since the start of the SIR (Special Intensive Revision) process, citing stress, anxiety and alleged chaos caused by the exercise.
Among the deceased are ordinary citizens as well as several officials working as Booth-Level Officers (BLOs) — those responsible for door-to-door verification as part of the voter-roll revision.
In response, the state government has announced financial assistance of ₹2 lakh to each family of the deceased. Those who fell critically ill — including a number of BLOs — will receive ₹1 lakh as support.
The administration has attributed the deaths to mounting workload, stress and fear triggered by the SIR exercise initiated from 4 November.
Meanwhile, in a show of political resistance, the state’s ruling party is staging protests and organising rallies in several districts — especially along the border with Bangladesh — to oppose what they call a “secret surveillance-driven voter roll revision”.
Critics of SIR have warned that the exercise is unsettling for voters, spreading panic and fear, while supporters of the process argue it’s meant to update electoral rolls and remove invalid names.
As the SIR controversy deepens, many fear the implications for the upcoming 2026 State Assembly elections in Bengal — especially if voter confidence erodes and public backlash grows.