An elderly farm labourer in East Burdwan’s Kalna died on Tuesday of a heart attack apparently triggered by “panic” over the possible fallout of the amended citizenship law on him.

Family members of Liyakat Karikar, 64, a resident of Nakadaha village in Purbasthali, said he had been worried about “collecting old, land-related documents” since the passing of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act on December 11.

“My father-in-law was so scared about the CAA and the NRC that he did not sleep last night,” said Firoza Biwi.

“He had been repeating over the past few days that the government would drive us out if we failed to furnish proof of residence. The NRC has killed him,” she added.

Family members said Liyakat was the eldest member of the household, and his three sons worked as labourers in Kerala. They said Liyakat could not locate land-related documents and also had mistakes in his identity proofs.

Four persons have succumbed to “NRC and CAA panic” in East Burdwan since last week. Nakadaha residents said the entire village was living in fear.

“We are poor people and don’t know what will happen to us if the CAA is implemented. No one here is to assure us that we will be in this country. We demand that the state and the Centre take steps to withdraw the law,” said Asraful Karikar, a youth from Nakadaha.

Pradip Kumar Saha, the MLA of Purbasthali Uttar, said: “Liyakat had expressed his worries about the CAA to us at a tea stall earlier this week. We are trying to reassure panicked people that no one can touch them.”

In North Dinajpur’s Hemtabad block, a farmer attempted suicide early on Tuesday apparently because of similar fear.

Family members of Saifur Rahman, 40, said he had panicked over an error in his voter card and had consumed pesticide at his agricultural field early on Tuesday. The family members rushed Saifur to Raiganj Government Medical College and Hospital, where he is receiving treatment.

“His name is spelled as Rahman Saifur on his voter card, and he was extremely worried about this since last week,” said daughter Shabnam Khatun, adding that her father had been going from pillar to post at government offices to get the mistake correct.

“He kept saying that we would be driven out of the state. We tried to reassure him, but he was inconsolable,” Shabnam said.

Speaking to reporters at the hospital, Saifur said he tried to kill himself as he did “not want to live in a detention camp”. “My documents are not correct, so I am sure I will be in trouble. What will happen to my family?” he asked.