West Bengal Special Intensive Revision Sparks Emotional Family Reunion After 29 Years

A 79-year-old man presumed dead by his family has returned home after nearly three decades. Sharif Ahmad arrived in Khatauli, Uttar Pradesh, in late December. He came to collect vital documents for a major electoral roll update in West Bengal.His family had lost all contact with him since 1997. They had even traveled to West Bengal to search for him without success. This bureaucratic process, known as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), led to an unexpected and emotional reunion.

Document Drive Reunites Long-Lost Family

Sharif Ahmad left his hometown after his first wife passed away. He remarried and moved to West Bengal’s Medinipur district. According to his nephew Waseem Ahmad, who spoke to PTI, the family made extensive efforts to find him.All attempts failed over the years. His four daughters and extended family eventually presumed he had died. The trigger for his return was the Election Commission of India’s SIR exercise in West Bengal.The process requires voters to link themselves to the 2002 electoral roll. This often needs old personaldocuments. Ahmad needed papers from his native place to complete this government mandate. His visit home revealed that his father and brother had passed away during his absence.

Broader Impact of Electoral Verification Drive

The Special Intensive Revision is a significant administrative undertaking. It aims to clean and update voter lists. In West Bengal, the draft list published in December saw over 58 lakh names deleted.Reasons for deletion included migration and death. The process has been politically sensitive. Leaders like Abhishek Banerjee have raised concerns with the Election Commission. The Commission maintains the exercise is essential for electoral integrity.For individuals like Sharif Ahmad, it had a profound personal effect. It forced a reconnection with a past he had left behind. His brief visit brought closure and joy to a family that had mourned him. He has since returned to West Bengal to finalize his voter registration.

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This remarkable story underscores how large-scale bureaucratic processes can have deeply human consequences. The West Bengal Special Intensive Revision did more than update a list; it reunited a family.

Info at your fingertips

Q1: What is the West Bengal Special Intensive Revision (SIR)?

The SIR is a detailed voter list verification drive by the Election Commission. It requires voters to link their current registration to the 2002 electoral roll. The goal is to create an accurate and updated voter database for the state.

Q2: Why did Sharif Ahmad return to Uttar Pradesh?

He needed old personal documents from his hometown. These papers were necessary to prove his eligibility during the SIR process in West Bengal, where he now lives. The bureaucratic requirement compelled him to re-establish contact after 29 years.

Q3: What was the result of the SIR draft publication?

In December, the Election Commission published a draft list that removed more than 58 lakh voter names. Names were deleted on grounds including confirmed deaths and permanent migration away from constituencies.

Q4: How did the family react to his return?

The family was shocked and overjoyed. They had believed he was dead after failed searches spanning decades. His nephew described the reunion as a deeply moving experience for everyone involved.

Q5: Has there been political controversy around the SIR?

Yes, West Bengal’s ruling party has expressed concerns about the process. TMC leaders have met with election officials, alleging that the revision could lead to the wrongful deletion of legitimate voters from the rolls.

Trusted Sources: PTI