‘Why this harassment? Just to prove our voting right?’
Times of India | 31 December 2025
Kolkata: Around 150 electors from Ballygunge constituency turned up at Lady Brabourne College for a hearing on Tuesday and cried "harassment" as they were made to wait 4-5 hours for their turn to submit documents to prove that "they are not outsiders in Kolkata".
Most of these electors stated that they had been living in the city for three generations and, despite putting all their details in enumeration forms, they were called in for hearing. "The BLO who served me the hearing notice asked me to get all my documents. I photocopied all documents, including my matriculation certificate. But the official took only a copy of my passport. And, for submission of this single document, I queued up since 12 noon. This is nothing but harassment," rued Suhrawardy Avenue resident Md Arshid.
Asghari Begum, 68, called the SIR exercise a nightmare for her, and said she never "experienced such harassment before in order to prove her voting right". "I lived in Topsia for long and cast my vote here in 2002. Before marriage, I used to live in Mallikpur. Today, I asked the EC officers why they called me for a hearing since the BLO collected all documents from my house. It seemed that the officers were not aware exactly why I got the hearing call," said the senior citizen who waited at the venue for over five hours.
The family of Park Circus resident Md Afaque was called in for hearing due to mapping issues. Septuagenarian Afaque said, "I was mapped to my mother in the 2002 SIR list, and my two sons, who were not adults 23 years ago, were mapped to me. The EC sought my mother's details, and I also furnished documents required. The hearing was as good as harassment for me and my family."
Electors at other hearing venues, like Ganabhavan near Sovabazar and Jessop Building, also felt the hearing was a way of harassing them. Aruna Karmakar (70), a resident of Bowbazar, said, "I live in Bowbazar. I worked as a domestic help for many years and have been living here for over 30 years with my daughter. I don't know why I was called. The BLO told me to appear at the Jessop Building, and I waited for around 4 hours for my turn. I was very worried as I was told to bring many documents. But, when I entered the camp, I was only asked for my signature."
Kolutola resident Rinki Sardar said, "I was called in for a hearing, but I don't know the reason. I asked my BLO what documents were required, and she told me to come with whatever documents I have. The notice came only 3 days before the hearing. The Jessop Building is quite far from my house, and I waited for over three hours for my turn."