The Election Commission’s decision to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists in West Bengal has triggered significant anxiety among suspected illegal Bangladeshi immigrants living in several border regions. Districts such as North 24 Parganas, Nadia, Murshidabad and Malda are witnessing increased movement of people attempting to flee towards Bangladesh.

Hundreds Attempt Crossings; BSF Intercepts Nearly 400 Individuals

According to Border Security Force (BSF) officials, close to 400 people — including domestic workers, labourers and women — have been apprehended in the last four days while attempting to illegally cross the India-Bangladesh border. Multiple visuals circulating online show unusual crowds on river routes and boat points across the Sundarbans region. Several individuals have reportedly withdrawn money from their bank accounts before escaping.

Independent fact-check sources have confirmed that many of the viral videos of mass movement are recent and linked to growing fear arising from SIR verification.

What SIR Means for Electoral Rolls

The SIR process involves door-to-door verification of voters to detect fake entries, forged documents and voters who are not legally eligible under electoral law. Political analysts indicate that West Bengal — historically sensitive on border and demographic issues — is likely to witness major impact as the process begins.

Political Clash: Congress Moves SC, TMC Blames Centre

The West Bengal Congress has filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the SIR order, claiming procedural weaknesses and alleging that legitimate residents may face harassment. The matter is expected to be placed before Chief Justice DY Chandrachud for listing.

TMC leaders have accused the Centre of attempting to politically engineer the state’s electoral demographics through SIR. BJP, on the other hand, maintains that the exercise is crucial to eliminate fraudulent voter entries and ensure transparency and integrity in the electoral system.

Related Crackdowns in Assam and Broader National Context

In Assam, state authorities have simultaneously begun large-scale eviction operations targeting illegal encroachments. Nearly 1,100 acres of government land have been cleared as part of ongoing actions against unauthorized settlers.

Meanwhile, initial alerts and intelligence inputs indicate that concerns around illegal Bangladeshi settlement may be more widespread — with similar clusters reportedly flagged in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.

Emerging National Flashpoint

With Bihar elections ongoing and West Bengal politically high stakes, the voter list verification drive and subsequent panic among suspected illegal immigrants is turning into a major national political flashpoint. The coming weeks are expected to see heightened legal, political and administrative activity as SIR rolls out fully across the state.