A mob protesting the SIR hearing ransacked the Block Development Office (BDO) and assaulted police personnel at Chakulia in North Dinajpur on Thursday. | Photo credit: ANI
The Electoral Commission has extended the dates for submitting objections as part of a special intensive review of electoral rolls until January 19. Even as protests were reported in various parts of the state on Friday (January 16, 2026) over issues with the SIR hearing process, a booth-level police officer in Kolkata reportedly found himself dead by suicide the day before.
“In accordance with the order of the Election Commission of India, the deadline for submission of forms (Forms 6, 6A, 7 and 8) for inclusion, deletion or correction of names in the electoral roll has been extended from January 15, 2026 to January 19, 2026,” said a notice from the Chief Electoral Office, January 16 Friday (West Bengal). The last date for submission of forms ended on Thursday (January 15), after which an extension notice came.
On Friday (January 16), protests broke out in Jaynagar, Shamudragarh, Aamdange, Dinhata and Diamond Harbour, among others. Protests in Shamudragarh led to locals blocking trains on its tracks as many clashed with the police. Citing harassment at the SIR hearing, local residents and supporters of political parties blocked roads at some places and burnt tires at others.
On Thursday (January 15) and Wednesday (January 14), protests against harassment at the SIR hearings turned violent with mobs vandalizing government offices. While locals led by Trinamool Congress MLAs attacked the BDO office at Farakka on Wednesday (January 14), a mob vandalized the BDO office at Chakulia in Uttar Dinajpur district on Thursday (January 15).
Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari came down hard on the ruling party over these protests. “The lawlessness that has been in full force since the day before yesterday, right from Farakka to Chakulia, is spreading like wildfire,” he wrote on X.
Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said on Friday (January 16) that at least 82 people had died as a result of the SIR process. “At many places, BLOs are protesting and calling for boycott because of inhuman work pressure. They are people and not machines; without training or proper mechanisms, they are being asked to verify the names of 300 people at a time. That’s why they are calling for boycott,” he said.
BLO dies by suicide
On Thursday (January 15) morning, the BLO, identified as Ashok Das, 48, was found dead at his home in Mukundapur. But their family did not file a complaint until later in the evening. The BJP shared the audio clip on social media and claimed that Das “was driven to death by suicide due to relentless pressure and intimidation by local TMC leaders”. They also claimed that the threats were not only professional, but that Das also lived in fear of physical violence.
Class 10 accepts cards without valid proof of age
In an order published by the EC on Thursday (January 15), the central body also said that Madhyamik (10th class state boards) admit that the cards will not be admissible as proof for persons in SIR.
“Madhyamik (Class X) Admit Card is not listed as an admissible document for the purpose of verification,” the order said.
However, many in the state do not have birth certificates, especially people who gave birth at home; in such cases they provide class 10 admit cards as valid proof of age.
People in distress or having suicidal thoughts can seek advice from Suicide Prevention Helpline Number: DISHA – 0471-2552056, 1056 or any of the numbers mentioned in this link.
Published – 16 Jan 2026 21:22 IST