A second suspected suicide attempt linked to fears over citizenship verification has heightened political tension in West Bengal. In the Cooch Behar district, a 60-year-old farmer named Khairul Sheikh reportedly consumed pesticide after becoming anxious that his name could be removed from the electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision of voter lists. According to family members, an old spelling discrepancy in the 2002 rolls created persistent worry in Sheikh’s mind, despite repeated reassurance from neighbours. He was discovered in time, given medical assistance, and remains under treatment. This incident follows the death of another man in North 24 Parganas a day earlier, who allegedly left a note attributing his actions to fear of the NRC.
The Trinamool Congress has framed both episodes as consequences of the BJP’s “politics of fear.” Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed that sustained rhetoric around citizenship has unsettled ordinary residents, leading to panic and misinformation. Trinamool leaders asserted that the current anxiety stems from what they termed a deliberate strategy to intimidate vulnerable populations, particularly those worried about documentation and bureaucratic scrutiny. In their public messaging, party leaders stated that the developments represent tragic fallout from the weaponisation of identity politics.
BJP leaders countered these allegations and rejected any link between the incidents and national policies. Suvendu Adhikari argued that the claims were motivated by electoral considerations and insisted that the deceased individual from North 24 Parganas had voted in past elections and remained on the rolls. BJP spokespersons emphasised that there is no NRC process currently operating anywhere in India, portraying the concerns as artificially fuelled by the ruling party in West Bengal. Amit Malviya accused Trinamool of fostering fear to preserve its support base and argued that refugees of earlier decades were being misled for political advantage.
Police officials stated that investigations are ongoing. Authorities confirmed the existence of a note referencing NRC in the earlier case and are gathering statements from family members in Cooch Behar to establish whether the recent attempt was directly tied to electoral verification anxiety. Both incidents have sharpened debate over administrative procedures and political messaging, underscoring how citizenship documentation remains a deeply sensitive issue in parts of Bengal.
