Election Commission Rejects Police Complaints After Bengal Voter Deaths

Overview

• The West Bengal CEO, speaking for the Election Commission, called police complaints against the CEC and the state CEO premeditated, unsubstantiated and intimidatory.
• Families of two elderly voters who died after receiving Special Intensive Revision hearing notices filed complaints alleging mental harassment and abetment to suicide.
• In Purulia, 82-year-old Durjan Majhi allegedly died by suicide before a scheduled hearing, with his son saying an online omission of his name led to a notice despite a physical roll entry.
• In Howrah, the son of 64-year-old Jamat Ali Sheikh alleged misuse of authority after a hearing notice was issued to his father, whom he described as a valid voter.
• The poll body said it would pursue legal steps to probe what it termed fabricated complaints and reiterated its December 27 directive that voters missing online due to a glitch need not attend hearings.