Written by Ravik BhattacharyaKolkata | November 7, 2025 06:47 AM IST 3 min read“We learned that Tarak was searching for documents in his room till around 1 a.m. last night. When he couldn’t find them, he became mentally devastated. On Thursday afternoon, after leaving his son at the shop, he came home and hanged himself,” a local resident said.A 38‑year‑old man allegedly died by suicide in Murshidabad district on Thursday afternoon. His family said that he was unable to produce documents required for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.According to police, the deceased, identified as Tarak Saha, a resident of Gandhi Colony, Berhampore, was a jhalmuri (spiced puffed rice) seller and was found hanging from a tree near his home.“One Tarak Saha hanged himself from a tree near his house using a Gamcha (towel) on Thursday afternoon. We have recovered the body and sent it for post mortem. We are investigating the case,” said a senior officer of Murshidabad police district.According to family members, Saha did not have his name listed in the 2002 voter list and neither could find the papers of his deceased parents.“My in-laws were reluctant about politics, so they never voted. They have passed way. We couldn’t find their old documents. My husband’s name was not in the 2002 voter list. He lived in constant fear and repeatedly said he would kill himself. I never imagined he would actually do it. My husband took his life because he didn’t have proper documents,” his wife Priya Saha told mediapersons.Neighbour Apu Biswas recounted that Saha broke down the previous evening, saying, “When I met Tarak yesterday evening, he broke down in tears. He told me that both his parents had passed away and that he didn’t have any valid documents for them.”Local sources said Saha, a former rickshaw driver, who had recently opened a small spice and puffed‑rice stall, was found searching his room for documents until around 1 am on Thursday. After leaving his physically disabled son at the shop, he returned home and took his own life.Story continues below this adHis wife works as a domestic help. Their daughter is married, and their only son is physically disabled.“We learned that Tarak was searching for documents in his room till around 1 a.m. last night. When he couldn’t find them, he became mentally devastated. On Thursday afternoon, after leaving his son at the shop, he came home and hanged himself,” a local resident said.Berhampore Municipality councillor Jayanta Pramanik said, “In recent days, statements by BJP leaders have created widespread panic, especially in slum areas where literacy is low.” He added that officials are trying to reassure residents that assistance will be provided to obtain necessary papers. “I heard that the man was still searching for some papers this morning but couldn’t find them,” he said.Ravik Bhattacharya is the Chief of Bureau of The Indian Express, Kolkata. Over 20 years of experience in the media industry and covered politics, crime, major incidents and issues, apart from investigative stories in West Bengal, Odisha, Assam and Andaman Nicobar islands. Ravik won the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award in 2007 for political reporting. Ravik holds a bachelor degree with English Hons from Scottish Church College under Calcutta University and a PG diploma in mass communication from Jadavpur University. Ravik started his career with The Asian Age and then moved to The Statesman, The Telegraph and Hindustan Times. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Kolkata