Report By: Swapnaleena Paul: Uttar Dinajpur West Bengal: A protest against the Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rolls turned violent on Thursday, leading to the ransacking of a Block Development Officer BDO office in Chakulia, destruction of government property and the burning of official documents, police said.
A group of villagers, agitated over repeated SIR notices and hearings, forcefully entered the Goalpokher II BDO office in Chakulia and vandalized the premises. Protestors pulled out files and furniture and set official papers on fire, causing significant damage to the government facility.
Police said they were forced to resort to lathi charge and tear gas to disperse the crowd after protesters allegedly began pelting stones. At least five policemen sustained injuries, according to local authorities.
The incident took place on Thursday morning at the Goalpokher II BDO office, located in the Uttar Dinajpur district of West Bengal. Local roads near the office were briefly blocked by protestors, disrupting traffic in the area.
The protestors were primarily residents of surrounding villages who claimed they had been repeatedly summoned for SIR hearings. Security forces, including local police units, were deployed to restore order. Officials did not immediately disclose the identities of individuals involved in the violence, but an FIR has been registered and investigations are underway.
The unrest was triggered by dissatisfaction with the Special Intensive Revision SIR exercise, an initiative aimed at updating and correcting voter lists. Villagers alleged that they were repeatedly called for hearings over minor discrepancies in documents such as spelling mistakes in names, leading to frustration and hardship, especially among the elderly and economically vulnerable.
Protestors claimed that even small errors resulted in multiple notices for verification, creating confusion and inconvenience.
Police responded to the escalation by attempting to disperse the crowd using force after verbal appeals failed. Tear gas was fired and a baton charge was used to push back protestors. At least five officers suffered injuries in the clashes, officials said.
An FIR has been registered in the Chakulia police station to investigate charges of vandalism, arson and assault on public servants. Police said they are examining video footage and eyewitness accounts to identify those responsible.
This incident follows a similar protest in Farakka, Murshidabad district, earlier in the week, where a BDO office was also vandalized during SIR related demonstrations, and booth level officers resigned en masse amid the unrest. The Election Commission of India ECI has taken note of the violent developments and issued directions to district authorities to investigate and report on both episodes.
The SIR exercise, intended to cleanse the electoral rolls ahead of elections, has become a flashpoint in several parts of West Bengal, triggering criticism from local residents and political figures who argue that the process is burdensome and poorly communicated.
Local residents and protestors said the repeated hearings were causing distress and hardship, particularly for those with limited literacy or mobility. Emotions ran high as protestors expressed distrust of the process.
Authorities, while acknowledging public concerns, emphasized that the SIR process is a statutory exercise under the supervision of the Election Commission, and vowed to ensure that such exercises are conducted smoothly while maintaining law and order.