Calcutta HC to hear petition demanding court-monitored SIR in WB, as Trinamool starts preparations

Amid allegations that people are ending their lives due to fear of SIR (Special Intensive Revision) in West Bengal, the Kolkata High Court on Friday, October 31, 2025, admitted a petition seeking a court-monitored SIR.

A bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Smita Das De admitted the petition, which also sought extension of time for carrying out the revision work. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar announced SIR in 12 states, including poll-bound West Bengal, on October 27.

Amid rising political temperatures, Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee held a virtual meeting with party leaders on Friday. During the meeting, Mr. Banerjee directed the party’s booth level officers (BLAs) to keep the booth level officers (BLOs) under “constant surveillance” during the SIR.

Mr. Banerjee told party leaders that the next six months would be an “acid test” for them, saying “BLOs should not be left unattended even for a minute.” The Trinamool Congress leader clarified that if the BJP is serious about finding infiltrators, they should carry out SIR in Assam, Meghalaya or Tripura as they say, but the exercise is a “political operation aimed at erasing genuine voters”.

The Trinamool leader announced that from November 4, the party will set up 6,200 voter assistance camps in 2,861 municipal wards and 3,345 gram panchayats to help people verify their names, submit claims and objections and report irregularities.

During his interaction with the party’s top brass, Mr. Banerjee also touched upon the large number of deaths allegedly due to the NRC scare. “Tragic events are coming to light one after another. A person died by suicide in Panihati, leaving a note behind due to fear and anxiety. Similar incidents took place in Dinhata and Illambazar.” Mr. Banerjee also stated that on Friday, a 28-year-old woman named Kakoli Sarkar died by suicide in Titagarh due to fear of NRC. Two days ago, he visited Trinamool Congress leader Pradip Kar’s house in Panihati and assured the people that the names of genuine voters will not be removed from the voters’ list.

Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said the camps mentioned by the Trinamool Congress leadership would be “Linking BLOs and BLAs of Opposition parties”.

“My message to the BLAs of the BJP is to keep yourself safe, perform the duties of a BLA. It is the responsibility of the election commission to provide protection to the BLOs and their appointed BLAs,” Mr. Adhikari said. The BJP leader said it was at the discretion of CEO Manoj Agarwal and CEC Gyanesh Kumar to provide safety and security to BLOs and BLAs through state police or central forces.

Mr. Adhikari took a dig at the Trinamool Congress’ claims that many people have died in West Bengal due to fear of SIR and said that a leopard had died in North Bengal and TMC leaders should visit the region, claiming that the animal had died due to fear of NRC.