Was a Police Complaint Filed Against CEC & Bengal CEO After an Elderly Man's Tragic Death Due to SIR Hearing Fear?

Synopsis

A tragic incident has unfolded in Purulia, where a police complaint has been filed against the Chief Election Commissioner and West Bengal CEO following the suicide of an elderly man. Allegations of mental harassment and fear surrounding a Special Intensive Revision hearing have emerged, raising serious concerns about the electoral process. What led to this heartbreaking event?

Key Takeaways

Durjan Majhi's tragic suicide highlights the potential impact of electoral processes on individuals.

Allegations of mental harassment raise important questions about the responsibilities of electoral authorities.

The community's response reflects concerns about the SIR process and its implications.

This incident calls for greater transparency in electoral practices.

Understanding the emotional toll of such processes is crucial for preventing future tragedies.

Kolkata, Dec 30 (NationPress) A formal complaint was lodged at a police station in Purulia district against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and West Bengal's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Kumar Agarwal on Tuesday, as reported by police.

The grievance was raised by the family of Durjan Majhi, who reportedly died by suicide on Monday, allegedly driven by the anxiety surrounding a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) hearing.

The police noted that the accusations against the CEC and the West Bengal CEO encompass mental harassment and abetment to suicide.

On the day of the incident, the elderly man, who was expected to attend the SIR hearing, stepped out to call for a rickshaw. His body was later found on the railway tracks.

According to the deceased's family, they believe that he took his own life by jumping in front of a train due to his fear of the SIR hearing.

This event has incited unrest in Chautala village within the Para Assembly constituency in Purulia district.

Durjan Majhi was identified as a former employee of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited.

Despite submitting the SIR enumeration form, Majhi had received a summons for a hearing, which was not seen by his wife or son, leading him to live in fear for several days.

The family claims that he had been despondent since the notice arrived from the Election Commission, fearing he would be sent to Bangladesh.

The hearing was set for Monday, but tragically, his body was discovered on the nearby railway tracks.

On Tuesday, the family initiated the complaint against the CEC and West Bengal CEO, asserting that his suicide was a direct result of the fear instilled by the SIR hearing.

In response to Durjan Majhi's death, Purulia district Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) President Kiriti Acharya stated, "We are witnessing instances of harassment of people in the name of conducting the SIR. Suicides are happening in various places. In Purulia district, a tribal resident had to commit suicide due to the SIR."

Jayadipta Chattaraj, a BJP leader from Purulia District, remarked, "The ruling party (Trinamool Congress) is attempting to disrupt the SIR process in various ways. They have been trying to sabotage this process from the beginning and are linking a coincidental incident to it. This is merely an accident."