Two BJP workers were arrested in West Bengal’s Bankura district after police recovered nearly 1,000 Form 7 applications—used to seek deletion of names from electoral rolls, from a vehicle travelling from Taldangra to Khatra, triggering a political storm amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists. Police sources said the seized forms were pre-filled with names and personal details of voters from multiple areas of the district, with a majority linked to the Taldangra Assembly constituency. Five BJP workers were reportedly in the car at the time of interception.
While two were detained on the spot, three others fled. An FIR has been registered at Khatra police station, and the forms along with the vehicle have been seized. The incident escalated tensions between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee shared images of the seized vehicle and accused the BJP and the Election Commission of attempting to “steal people’s democracy” by falsely declaring voters dead to remove their names from the rolls. Banerjee reiterated her allegation that voters’ personal data was being misused under the pretext of SIR and said she had instructed Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to remain vigilant.
Police recovered nearly 1,000 Form 7 applications, used to request deletion of names from electoral rolls, from a vehicle.
Two BJP workers were arrested after police found pre-filled Form 7 applications in their vehicle, suggesting an attempt to remove voters from electoral rolls.
The Chief Minister alleges the BJP and Election Commission are trying to steal democracy by falsely declaring voters dead to remove their names from the rolls during the voter list revision.
Form 7 is used to apply for the deletion of names from electoral rolls.
