Malda: People block National Highway 12 during a protest against the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, at Gazole in Malda district. (PTI Photo)
NEW DELHI: Roads were blocked and tyres set ablaze as several districts in West Bengal erupted in protests on Tuesday over alleged harassment of people during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the poll-bound state, police saidAccording to a senior official, the demonstrations took place in South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, Jhargram, and Purba Medinipur, prompting authorities to strengthen force deployment in these areas.The chaos erupted a day after the Supreme Court stressed that the SIR process in West Bengal must be “transparent” and should not cause “inconvenience” to electors.The top court also instructed the Election Commission (EC) to display the names of those on the “logical discrepancies” list at gram panchayat bhavans and block offices, where documents and objections could be submitted.Protesters alleged that, despite possessing valid documents, elderly citizens and genuine voters were being served SIR notices under the pretext of “logical discrepancies” or being “mismatched with the voter list of 2002,” from when the SIR was last conducted in the state.South 24 ParganasIn South 24 Parganas, demonstrators blocked roads in areas including Dholahat and Polba. Security personnel were deployed to clear the obstructions and prevent the situation from escalating.“A few roads were blocked temporarily, but the situation is now under control. We are in constant touch with local representatives and ensuring that no adverse law-and-order situation develops,” a senior police officer told PTI. Purba MedinipurIn Purba Medinipur’s Haldia Debhog Gram Panchayat, locals alleged that around 650 of 1,248 voters from booth number 269 in Manoharpur received hearing notices, with a majority belonging to minority communities.Expressing helplessness, a senior police officer said, “We have no role in issuing hearing notices. Our responsibility is limited to maintaining law and order. We are ensuring that protests remain peaceful and that essential services are not disrupted.”Another officer urged people “not to spread rumours or take the law into their hands” and added that grievances should be addressed with the appropriate authorities.Protesters warned that agitation could intensify if corrective measures were not taken. Security forces remain on alert across sensitive areas to prevent further unrest.TMC vs ECThe ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), which has been in power in West Bengal since 2011, has repeatedly raised concerns over the voter list revision process. Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee even wrote to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, demanding a halt to the SIR drive.After the first phase, the draft electoral rolls, published on December 16 last year, showed the electorate shrinking from 7.66 crore to 7.08 crore, with over 58 lakh names deleted statewide.According to EC officials, the exclusions in the first phase were based on reasons such as death, permanent migration, duplication, and non-submission of enumeration forms.The poll panel has emphasised that voters marked as unmapped or discrepant are being given an opportunity to be heard. The final electoral rolls are scheduled to be published on February 14.
