Kolkata, September 23: At least six people have died in West Bengal so far due to "panic" over the National Register of Citizenship (NRC) which has been implemented in neighbouring Assam, said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday. The citizenship drive will lead to adverse consequences if carried out in Bengal, Banerjee claimed, adding that she would never allow the divisive process to be carried out in the state.

"I am sad that six people have died in Bengal due to panic created over National Register of Citizens (NRC). We will never allow NRC here. Please have faith in me," Banerjee said. Mamata Banerjee Meets Amit Shah, Expresses Concern Over 'Wrongful' Exclusion From NRC in Assam.

The deaths have been reported in border districts, with two among the deceased being identified as Annada Roy, a 38-year-old farmer in Jalpaiguri district, and 52-year-old Mantu Sarkar in South Dinajpur. While Roy committed suicide by hanging himself from the ceiling fan, Sarkar died after collapsing a long queue to upgrade his ration card. Both the deaths were linked to the panic over NRC by the local media.

The Trinamool Congress chief is among the leading politicians who have opposed the NRC drive -- which has resulted in the exclusion of over 19 lakh people from the final list of citizens published by Assam. The BJP, which is eyeing to dislodge the TMC regime in Bengal in 2021 polls, has promised to implement the NRC in the state if elected to power.

Update by ANI:

The NRC process in Assam was monitored by the Supreme Court and was aimed at weeding out the illegal immigrants who entered the state after 1971. Political parties and groups representing indigenous people of the state, including the All Assam Students' Union (AASU), had led massive agitations since the 1980s' alleging massive infiltration from Bangladesh.

Three decades after the first steps were taken to carry out an NRC, the state has finally succeeded in identifying 19,06,657 illegal immigrants. The final outcome has, however, not elicited support from any of the stakeholders. While the AASU, along with the BJP state unit, have marked concerns over the "low amount" of exclusion, the parties and civil society groups representing the minorities have alleged that genuine citizens have been excluded.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 23, 2019 03:46 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).