NRC panic claims 12th victim in Bengal

KOLKATA: Giyasuddin Sheikh, a resident of Hariharpara in Murshidabad district, died of a massive heart attack on Thursday morning. With his death, the total number of people who have died due to fear of proposed implementation of NRC in the state goes up to 12.

Sheikh, who complained of acute chest pain, was taken to Murshidabad District Hospital, where he died soon after admission. His next of kin alleged that Sheikh had become panic-stricken after some local people told him that NRC will be implemented in Bengal soon. He subsequently tried to trace some old documents but failed. For two days, he did not talk to his family members and finally complained of acute chest pain.

Meanwhile, the Block Development Officers (BDOs) in different districts visited the houses and urged people not to get panicked. They said that issuance of digital ration cards or rectification of the voters' list has nothing to do with NRC.

It may be mentioned that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has repeatedly said that NRC will not be implemented in Bengal. Like Wednesday, hundreds of people queued up at the headquarters of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), to get their birth certificates or make corrections in the name, address or the place of birth. The civic officials of KMC's health department urged them not to get panicked or swayed by the rumour that NRC will be implemented in Bengal.