SIR protests continue in West Bengal days after publication of the draft rolls

Protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) have continued in West Bengal days after the draft electoral roll was published in West Bengal. On Wednesday (March 4, 2026), protests erupted at Usti in South 24 Parganas district over the death of a youth, Rafiq Ali Gazi.

The youth had died by suicide. He was upset upon finding his name in the adjudication list of the draft electoral roll, his wife said. Supporters of the Trinamool Congress held a protest in Usti with the body of the deceased. Usti comes under the Magrahat Paschim Assembly seat, within the jurisdiction of the Diamond Harbour Police district. The Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha seat is represented by Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.

“Upon receiving news of his tragic passing, and under the instructions of Hon’ble MP @AbhishekAITC , our delegation and party members stand in solidarity with the bereaved family,” the Trinamool Congress posted on social media.

West Bengal’s ruling party also pointed out that until this “sinister plot of dispossessing ordinary citizens of their fundamental rights ceases, our struggle and unwavering resistance in defense of Constitutional justice shall persist”. The Trinamool claimed that the deceased was excluded from the final list despite submitting all valid documents during the hearing, subjecting him to excruciating mental anguish .

Protests were also witnessed at Deganga in North 24 Parganas after more than 80% of electors from a polling booth were put on the adjudication list. After the four-month long SIR, the draft electoral rolls published on February 28, 2026 contained 7.04 crore electors, including 60 lakh electors being adjudicated by judicial officers. With elections due in the next few months, the Trinamool Congress may want to keep the SIR pot boiling. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will sit in a dharna against the SIR from March 6 in Kolkata.

Speaking at a public gathering on Tuesday (March 3, 2026) in Kolkata, the Chief Minister said that about 1.2 crore people of West Bengal were on the verge of losing their voting rights. Accusing the Election Commission of India (ECI) of trying to manipulate the election, she said that people would give a befitting response to it.

On Wednesday (March 4, 2026), Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leaders led a protest outside the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal. The protest was led by CPI(M) State Secretary Md. Salim, who said that the State’s Executive has failed its people by putting 60 lakh electors in the adjudication list. The Supreme Court on February 20 had directed the engagement of judicial officers for the last leg of the SIR, citing a trust deficit between the EC and the West Bengal government. “Election (nirvachan) has become torture (nirjatan) for the people of West Bengal,” Mr. Salim said.

This article contains references to suicide and mental health issues. Those in distress can call the helplines listed here, or may contact Sanjivini, Society for Mental Health suicide prevention helpline 011-40769002.