The West Bengal government has stepped up security arrangements for families affected by the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls who are currently in Delhi, amid heightened political tension over the issue. According to sources, a large contingent of state police personnel is being rushed to Banga Bhavan to ensure their safety, with members of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) also included in the deployment.
Police sources said a 22-member team, led by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), is being sent to the national capital. The team also includes an officer of inspector rank and is scheduled to leave for Delhi on Monday night. Meanwhile, Director General of Police Peeyush Pandey has already reached Delhi to oversee the situation, sources said.
The SIR of voter lists is currently underway in 12 states and Union Territories, including West Bengal. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has opposed the process from the outset. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written six letters to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that the SIR exercise has caused severe distress in Bengal. According to the state government, several people have allegedly died due to pressure related to the process, while many living voters have been wrongly marked as “dead” in Election Commission records. The Chief Minister has claimed she has received no response to her letters.
Citing these allegations, Mamata travelled to Delhi along with members of some of the affected families, with arrangements made for their stay at Banga Bhavan, the West Bengal government’s guest house. However, from Monday morning, what the TMC described as unusual activity by the Delhi Police was noticed outside the premises. It was alleged that police personnel flooded the area, entered Banga Bhavan and conducted room-to-room searches.
Also read: Delhi Police intimidating people from Bengal : Mamta Banerjee
On receiving information about the incident, the Chief Minister rushed to Banga Bhavan. She first met the affected families, with TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee also present, offering reassurance. “Don’t worry. I am here,” Mamata was heard telling them.
Later, speaking to journalists outside Banga Bhavan, the Chief Minister strongly criticised the Delhi Police. “Delhi Police is entering Banga Bhavan and searching room by room. People from Bengal are staying there. This is our building. They cannot do this,” she alleged.
Standing alongside Abhishek, Mamata said she had come to Delhi with family members of those who allegedly died due to the SIR process, as well as individuals who are alive but have been declared dead in official records. She issued a warning to the Delhi Police, saying, “There is no reason to think of me as weak. It would be a mistake to think so. We have brought them here from faraway places. They cannot be intimidated.”
The Chief Minister was also seen speaking directly to Delhi Police officers at the spot. Referring to past allegations of harassment of Bengalis in Delhi, she urged restraint. “Do not harass and persecute the people of Bengal in this way. Many have died. Many have lost their loved ones. Do not show us your brute force,” she said.
In the wake of the incident and amid concerns over the safety of the affected families, the state government decided to immediately deploy a police team to Delhi. Sources said the move was aimed at ensuring security at Banga Bhavan and preventing any further escalation related to the SIR controversy.
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