Kolkata, January 10, 2026. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has made a major allegation against the central government regarding SIR, claiming that 77 people have died in the state so far due to SIR. Describing the issue as a humanitarian crisis, she stated that no administrative or technical process can be placed above human lives.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote a 2-page letter to the Chief Election Commissioner on Saturday. In it, she accused the common citizens of being continuously harassed in the name of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in the state.

Mamata wrote: The SIR process showed no human sensitivity. The SIR process was responsible for the deaths of 77 people, 4 suicide attempts, and 17 people falling ill. People were living in fear and under pressure. SIR was conducted without preparation.

The CM alleged that even elderly and respected individuals like Nobel laureate Amartya Sen were asked to prove their identity. Similarly, poet Joy Goswami, actor-MP Deepak Adhikari, and cricketer Mohammed Shami also had to face this process.

In West Bengal, 5.82 million names have been cut from the SIR draft list. Before the draft list, there were 76.6 million voters in the state; the draft list included 70.8 million voters’ names.

The percentage of voters cut is 7.6, meaning approximately 8 out of every 100 voters’ names were removed. However, out of the 5.82 million voters, 2.417 million were found to be deceased, 138,000 were duplicate or fake, and 3.265 million voters were categorized as shifted, missing, or other.

Mamata also said that her government has been consistently warning the center about this issue, but the warnings were ignored. She demanded a fair investigation into the entire process related to SIR and that appropriate compensation be given to the families who have lost their loved ones. The Chief Minister described the issue as not political but related to human sentiments, stating that accountability must be fixed.

Following this statement, activity has intensified in state and national politics. Opposition parties have raised questions on Mamata’s allegations, while the Trinamool Congress has called it a failure of the center’s policies. It is anticipated that this issue will likely intensify further in the coming days, from Parliament to the streets.

Nobel laureate Amartya Sen

Amartya Sen is an Indian economist and philosopher, not a place or cultural site. He was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1998 for his contributions to welfare economics and social choice theory, particularly his work on the causes of famine, poverty, and inequality. His influential concepts, such as the “capability approach,” have had a profound global impact on development and human rights policy.

poet Joy Goswami

Joy Goswami is not a place or cultural site, but a renowned contemporary Indian poet who writes primarily in Bengali. Born in 1954, he is celebrated for his profound and often metaphysical poetry, which has earned him major literary awards like the Sahitya Akademi Award. His work is a significant part of modern Bengali literature and cultural heritage.

actor-MP Deepak Adhikari

Deepak Adhikari, popularly known as Dev, is a prominent Indian film actor and politician from West Bengal. He transitioned from a successful career in Bengali cinema to politics, becoming a Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Ghatal constituency in the Lok Sabha since 2014. His journey reflects a common trend in Indian regional politics where popular film stars leverage their public appeal for electoral success.

cricketer Mohammed Shami

Mohammed Shami is a prominent Indian cricketer, not a place or cultural site. He is a fast bowler who made his international debut in 2013 and has since become a key player for India, known for his seam bowling and crucial performances in major tournaments like the Cricket World Cups.