“If not anyone else, Allah will give us justice!” said Hamidul Miya’s sister with tears glistening in her eyes, as she clutched her brother's infant tightly to her chest, seeking solace in the warmth of the innocent child. As we spoke to her, she softly dabbed the corner of her eyes with her worn-out dupatta, her voice trembled with emotion as even after three years she found it difficult to wrap her brain around the tragedy that had befallen her family. The memory of Hamidul Miya, 31 years old, remains etched in her heart, a painful reminder of the fateful day when he along with three others lost their lives to bullets fired by the CISF during the infamous Sitalkuchi firing incident in Bengal during the fourth phase of assembly elections on April 10, 2021.

Amtali Madhyamik Siksha Kendra, the place where the infamous Sitalkuchi shooting occured

Hamidul's young son, born just a month after his father's tragic demise, has never known the embrace of a father's love. At three years old, he wanders through life without a paternal figure to guide him. Meanwhile, his six-year-old sister, though occasionally curious about her absent father, often retreats into the simplicity of childhood. As the sole provider for her fatherless children, Hamidul's widow shoulders the weight of responsibility thrust upon her by fate. From the confines of her once-sheltered existence, she now ventures into the world as a home-guard, a job that she got as a part of her compensation package. Hamidul's sister, who cherished her brother dearly, remains at a loss for words even after three years have passed since his untimely death. Tragically, just three months after Hamidul's death, his father succumbed to the weight of sorrow, leaving the family reeling from yet another loss.

Hamidul's sister and his infant son who was born a month after his death

"We've surrendered in our quest for justice. It's a costly battle, beyond the means of a struggling family like ours. With empty stomachs and no means to afford legal fees, how can we pursue justice? The media visits us before every election, offering hope that soon fades into despair. Like I said, only Allah can give us justice," lamented Sakina, Hamidul's sister through tearful sobs. Though years have come and gone, time has failed to heal their wounds, the passage of time has only deepened the longing for justice, to bring closure to the unbearable pain of losing a beloved brother “while he was standing in the queue to cast his vote”.

The story of sorrow and despair, with families burdened by unimaginable grief and hardship amidst poverty and the daunting pursuit of justice, is not unique to Hamidul's household. All four families still grapple with overwhelming sorrow in the aftermath of the killings. As the years pass from 2021 to 2024, from the Bengal assembly elections to the upcoming general elections, the families are plagued by haunting memories every election cycle. They are nonchalant to go back to the same polling booth, stained by the blood of their loved ones. Inside ‘Amtoli Madhyamik Sikhha Kendra’ school in Jorpatki, Sitalkuchi, where the firing took place, now stands a memorial with the names of the four deceased engraved as ‘martyrs’.