BALURGHAT: An atmosphere of uncertainty has engulfed the border areas of South Dinajpur as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls progresses across Bengal. In the Hili block, which lies along the India-Bangladesh border, thousands of minority residents are spending sleepless nights wondering whether their names will remain on the updated voter list or not.
Surrounded on three sides by the international border, Hili includes more than 10 Indian villages situated close to the barbed-wire fencing. Together, these villages account for nearly 5,000 voters. However, tension has been rising ever since the Election Commission launched the SIR exercise, particularly among minority families who fear their names may be omitted due to documentation errors or past migration histories.
Locals say the region has long witnessed the movement of people from Bangladesh into India. While many settled here after Independence, a sizable number also crossed over after 2002 for various socio-economic reasons. Over time, several of them allegedly obtained voter cards through brokers or by using relatives’ identities. With the current revision demanding strict scrutiny of voter records, anxiety has spread rapidly among such families. Residents fear that minor mistakes may lead to serious consequences. The fear is more pronounced in villages like Hilli Southpara, Hindumission and Ujal, where a significant number of families have migration-linked histories.
“We have always been harassed for living on the border. Yet we worry whether our forms have mistakes or whether our names will remain.” said a minority resident on condition of anonymity.
“We are Indians. Our family’s names were in the 2002 voter list, yet we are tense. Many Muslims here are worried. Some people who came after 2002 are extremely scared,” he added.
“I don’t even remember if SIR happened earlier. Our names were in the 2002 list, but we are still worried. What if old documents are rejected or our names don’t appear after the revision?” said another resident.