Archive · 18 Nov 2025
Man Returns After 28 Years, Woman Dies by Suicide Amid SIR Drive
A man who was believed to be dead for 28 years returned to his village in West Bengal to reclaim his voter ID.
Meanwhile, an elderly woman died by suicide due to anxiety over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Jagabandhu Mondal returned to his village after 28 years
His wife had performed his last rites and raised their children alone
His name was removed from the voter list during revisions
He returned to claim his identity as a voter
An elderly woman set herself on fire due to SIR anxiety
- Who
- Jagabandhu Mondal, his wife Supriya, and father Bijoy Mondal; Jamuna Mondal
- What
- Jagabandhu returned to reclaim voter ID; Jamuna Mondal died by suicide
- When
- Monday, unspecified date; Tuesday
- Where
- Bagdah village, Bengal; Kolkata
- Why
- To reclaim his identity as a voter; Anxiety over SIR process
Family's perspective
Election officials' perspective
Marriage status
Family's perspective
Jagabandhu denies remarriage
Election officials' perspective
Suspicion of remarriage due to voter list entry
SIR anxiety
Family's perspective
Jamuna's family blames SIR process for her suicide
Election officials' perspective
ECI defends SIR drive, cites Supreme Court instructions
- Age
- 55 (Jagabandhu)
- Years missing
- 28
- Children
- Two (Jagabandhu's)
- Age (Jamuna)
- 67
- Suicide count
- 12 in 4 days (Bengal)
Sources
SIR in Bengal: Man, given up for dead, returns home after 28 years to reclaim name in voter list
West Bengal: Missing man returns home after 28 years to add his name in voter list due to SIR drive, family had performed last rites
