MALDA — In an incident that has shaken West Bengal’s Malda, a young Muslim man arrived at a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) hearing centre carrying soil from his grandfather’s grave, saying repeated summons and fresh demands for proof have pushed his family to the brink.
The man, Salik, is from Wari Daulatpur village in Harishchandrapur Block 1. He said every member of his family has been summoned repeatedly, even after submitting all documents in his father’s name. Officials, he said, later demanded land records in his grandfather’s name—documents the family does not possess.
Left with no other option, Salik brought soil from his grandfather’s grave and demanded a DNA test to prove his Indian identity.
“The Election Commission is harassing us again and again,” Salik told reporters. “We have shown all our papers. Still, we are called for another hearing. They summon us but do not explain anything. How will I know whether my name is on the voter list?”
Holding a packet of soil, he said, “I brought soil from my grandfather’s grave. Let them test it. Then they will know whether my grandfather was Indian or Bangladeshi. Until now, everything matched. Suddenly, they say the names do not match.”
Salik said long queues form daily at the hearing centre. “Pregnant women, elderly people, and sisters stand for hours. Everyone is being troubled. This kind of fear was never there before,” he said.
When asked about the incident, Chanchal Electoral Registration Officer and Sub-Divisional Officer Rithik Hazara gave a brief response. “Work is being done as per the Commission’s guidelines. Some people are being asked to appear for a second hearing. I have nothing more to say,” he said.
The incident has deepened political tensions in the district. BJP leaders denied any wrongdoing and blamed the Trinamool Congress for what they described as a staged act.
BJP North Malda organisational committee member Kishan Kedia said, “This agency is working independently and should be allowed to function. Everyone makes mistakes, and there are laws to address them. Creating drama is wrong. The Trinamool Congress is misleading people and spreading chaos.”
He added, “Because of their statements, this person brought soil from a grave. This is a plan to create unrest.”
Trinamool Congress leaders strongly rejected the allegation, saying the incident reflects the fear Indian Muslims are living with under the ongoing verification process.
District General Secretary Ziaur Rahman said, “This incident shows the panic among ordinary people. In the name of SIR, many families are being pushed into fear. That is why this young man resorted to such an act to prove he is Indian.”
He added, “The Election Commission is acting under pressure from the BJP. Calling this incident fake insults the pain of the people. The repeated questioning of Indian Muslims will be answered at the ballot box.”
For many local residents, Salik’s act has become a symbol of distress. Community members said citizenship verification should not turn law-abiding Indian Muslims into suspects in their own country.
As hearings continue in Malda, a quiet question echoes across villages: why are families with decades of documents still being asked—again and again—to prove that they belong to India?
