With the Lok Sabha elections just around the corner, a major controversy has erupted over the electoral roll in West Bengal’s Cooch Behar district. Thousands of people took to the streets on Saturday morning after discovering their names marked as ‘Deleted’ in the supplementary voter list. The situation escalated quickly, with protesters clashing with the police, who were forced to use lathi-charge to control the mob. The entire district is now tense following the widespread anger and unrest.

Massive Names ‘Deleted’ from Voter List: According to sources, a significant number of individuals from various blocks in Cooch Behar found their names missing or listed under the ‘Deleted’ category when the supplementary electoral roll was published. The sheer scale of the deletions—thousands from a single constituency—has shocked residents, many of whom have been regular voters for decades. The discovery led to widespread panic, with people rushing to BDO offices to demand an explanation. The news spread like wildfire, fueling anger among the populace.

Violence and Lathi-Charge at BDO Offices: The situation turned violent on Saturday morning when a large mob of angry residents converged on the Cooch Behar Block I office and other administrative centers. Demanding answers, the protesters broke down the office gates and clashed with the police. As the crowd became increasingly uncontrollable, the police were forced to resort to a lathi-charge to disperse them. Several protesters are reported to have been injured in the ensuing melee. The area remains under heavy police presence to prevent further clashes.

Political Furore and Administrative Response: The incident has triggered a political storm, with the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) terming it a massive conspiracy and blaming administrative negligence. TMC district president Abhijit De Bhowmick said, “This is a grave issue. Thousands of genuine voters are at risk of being disenfranchised due to a complete failure by the administration and the Election Commission. We demand an immediate inquiry.” While administrative officials have reportedly cited technical glitches and assured an investigation, the timing of the error, so close to the crucial elections, has left thousands of voters worried and angry.