Residents from minority communities in West Bengal’s border districts of Malda and Murshidabad have been rushing to municipal offices, gram panchayats, and local courts to obtain documents proving their birthplaces and dates, amid fears of a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, reported PTI.

In Malda, middlemen are reportedly charging Rs 1,900 to help residents prepare affidavits and submit applications online for birth certificates.

Groups of 50–80 people are being taken to local courts, while cyber cafés are profiting from the increased demand for both digital and hard copies, a local advocate said.