Overview
- Pradeep Kar, 57, was found dead at his Panihati home, and police said a note recovered at the scene mentioned the National Register of Citizens.
- Barrackpore police commissioner Muralidhar Sharma said preliminary interviews and family accounts pointed to severe anxiety following the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
- After meeting the family, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee blamed a climate of panic and told supporters to confront and tie up local BJP workers if they demand parents’ birth certificates.
- Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of spreading fear, while BJP’s Amit Malviya denied any NRC is in effect and urged that the death be probed by law enforcement without political rhetoric.
- The Election Commission reiterated that the Special Intensive Revision is an independent exercise to ensure accurate voter rolls, as police continue their investigation into the circumstances of the death.