Bengal Woman’s Alleged Self-Immolation Tied to Voter-Roll Drive Triggers Probe, Political Crossfire

Overview

• A middle-aged woman identified as Mustara/Mastura Khatun died after allegedly setting herself on fire in Bhatar, Purba Bardhaman, with police sending the body for post-mortem and registering an unnatural death case.
• Relatives and neighbours reported intense anxiety linked to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls despite her prior listing and recent form submission, with one account citing a failed upload due to server problems.
• TMC leaders, including MLA Mangobinda Adhikari and MP Sayani Ghosh, visited the family, while party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee remained in contact.
• TMC blamed the Election Commission for a rushed, coercive verification timetable that it says frightened vulnerable residents, as BJP figures accused TMC of politicising the incident.
• TMC further claimed around 40 deaths statewide during the SIR period, including four Booth Level Officers, a number not independently verified in these reports.