Archive · 4 Nov 2025
West Bengal SIR Announcement Leads to Infiltrator Departures and Political Accusations
In West Bengal, India, officials are updating the list of people who can vote, called the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
After this update process was announced, many people from Bangladesh who were living in India illegally started leaving.
They were scared that the people checking the voter list would find out they were not supposed to be there and send them back.
The Border Security Force has caught many of them trying to cross back into Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, one political party, the BJP, is accusing another party, the Trinamool Congress, of appointing their own supporters as the workers who check the voter lists.
The BJP believes this is unfair and will help the Trinamool Congress win the next election.
The Trinamool Congress, however, says the SIR process is actually a plan by the BJP to create a National Register of Citizens, which they oppose.
48 Bangladeshi infiltrators were arrested by the BSF in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district while attempting to return to Bangladesh.
Infiltrators expressed fear of being identified and deported during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The BJP has alleged that the Trinamool Congress is appointing affiliated individuals as Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in Nandigram, potentially influencing the SIR process.
The BJP claims the Trinamool Congress opposes SIR due to fear of losing illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya voters.
The Trinamool Congress contends that SIR is a BJP ploy to implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in West Bengal.
- Who
- Bangladeshi infiltrators, Border Security Force (BSF), BJP, Trinamool Congress, Election Commission
- What
- Bangladeshi infiltrators attempting to return to Bangladesh due to fear of identification during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls; BJP alleges biased appointment of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) by Trinamool Congress.
- When
- Announced last week, with arrests occurring on November 1st and 2nd.
- Where
- West Bengal, specifically North 24 Parganas district (Basirhat, Hakimpur) and Nandigram.
- Why
- Infiltrators fear detection and deportation during the voter list revision process (SIR); BJP claims Trinamool is appointing biased BLOs to gain an advantage in upcoming polls.
Trinamool Congress
BJP
Purpose of SIR
Trinamool Congress
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a ploy by the BJP and the Union Government to impose the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in West Bengal.
BJP
The Trinamool Congress's opposition to SIR stems from their fear that the names of their voter bank, consisting of illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya infiltrators, will be removed from the electoral rolls.
Appointment of BLOs
Trinamool Congress
The BJP has alleged that Trinamool-affiliated individuals or their spouses are being appointed as Booth Level Officers (BLOs), which would compromise the integrity of the SIR process and benefit the ruling party in upcoming polls.
BJP
The Trinamool Congress's stance on BLO appointments is not explicitly detailed in the provided text, but their opposition to the SIR process generally is framed by the BJP as an attempt to protect illegal voters.
- Event
- Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls announced in West Bengal
- Arrests
- 48 Bangladeshi infiltrators arrested attempting to cross back into Bangladesh from North 24 Parganas
- Arrest Dates
- November 1 (15 infiltrators) and November 2 (33 infiltrators)
- Recent Arrests (3 days)
- Nearly 90 Bangladeshi nationals arrested for illegal border crossing
- BJP Allegation
- Trinamool-affiliated individuals appointed as BLOs in Nandigram
- BJP Concern
- Improper BLO appointments could affect the SIR process
- Trinamool Concern
- SIR is a BJP ploy to implement NRC in West Bengal
Sources
West Bengal SIR: BJP to deploy more than 50,000 booth-level agents
48 Bangladeshis held at Basirhat border amid panic over SIR in Bengal - Telegraph India
Bhopal News: Election Commission Team May Visit Bhopal Soon To Review Special Intensive Revision Prep
Domestic helpers, reportedly Bangladeshi, in pockets of Bengal disappearing after SIR announced: BJP
BJP writes to CEO Bengal, alleging appointment of Trinamool-affiliated BLOs in Nandigram
