Another BLO suicide in West Bengal: Deceased Blames ECI in Note; Mamata Banerjee Demands an answer
SIR is currently underway in 9 states and 3 union territories.
BLO death West Bengal: Yet another case of suicide, allegedly because of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR), has come to light, wherein a Booth Level Officer (BLO) has committed suicide at Krishnanagar today in Nadia district of West Bengal.
The deceased, identified as Rinku Tarafdar, is said to be a lady para- teacher. And has left behind purported suicide notes, written in Bengali.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee took to X, sharing the distressing news, and wrote, “Profoundly shocked to know of the death of yet another BLO, a lady para- teacher,who has committed suicide at Krishnanagar today . BLO of part number 201 of AC 82 Chapra, Smt Rinku Tarafdar, has blamed ECI in her suicide note ( copy is attached herewith) before committing suicide at her residence today.”
The all India Trinamool Congress founder and chairperson, Banerjee, questioned, “How many more lives will be lost? How many more need to die for this SIR? How many more dead bodies shall we see for this process? This has become truly alarming now!!”
In a similar incident, a BLO in Gujarat’s Gir Somnath district died by suicide, India Today reported yesterday. According to the report, the victim is identified as Arvind Vadher, a 49-year-old teacher, working as a BLO in Chhara village of Kodinar taluka. He also left behind a suicide note, writing, “I won’t be able to do this SIR work anymore. I’ve been feeling exhausted and troubled for the past few days. I am very sorry, my dear wife Sangita and my loving son Krishay."
In the suicide note, he added that his bag containing official documents should be submitted to the school.
His brother, Rajyas Bhai Vadel, told India Today that the victim committed suicide yesterday morning and a suicide note was found in his pocket, wherein he stated that he was under severe pressure to meet the 95% target by the 23rd.
In a separate case in Gujarat, a 50-year-old BLO, identified as Rameshbhai Parmar, reportedly died of a heart attack at his home. His family has attributed the death to the unimaginable pressure from SIR work.
SIR is currently underway in 9 states and 3 union territories. Sections of society have raised questions about the short duration of the revision process, citing extreme pressure on those working at the ground level. The latest from West Bengal is the fourth death by suicide, so far across the nation, since the process of the second phase of SIR began.
Earlier, it was conducted in Bihar, amid widespread opposition from the opposition parties. In this regard, Congress has announced a massive rally on 14 December against SIR, at Delhi.
However, the NDA leaders were, earlier today, seen criticising the Congress for its objection to the SIR, alleging it drowned RJD and its leader Tejashwi Yadav in the recent Bihar assembly election due to its objection.
As SIR continues, politics over it are in full swing with the ruling justifying it while the opposition questioning it process.
Congress Slams PM Narendra Modi and Gyanesh Kumar for BLO Death
As the number of deaths of BLOs is continuously being reported from across the nation, Congress on Saturday sharply criticised the Chief Election Commissioner of India, Gyanesh Kumar, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying they have turned "SIR into a new weapon for 'vote theft and that the weapon is also taking lives".
"The reports of the deaths of BLOs amid the announcement of SIR in 12 states of the country are heartbreaking. Now, two more BLOs have lost their lives in Madhya Pradesh and one in Tamil Nadu. There was immense pressure on them to complete the SIR work quickly," Congress wrote in a post on X, citing deaths of BLOs in various other states.
"Narendra Modi and Gyanesh Kumar have turned SIR into a new weapon for 'vote theft,' but perhaps they have forgotten that this weapon is taking people's lives. The families of the deceased will not forgive Narendra Modi and Gyanesh Kumar," Congress added.
Currently, 5,32,828 BLOs are engaged in the second phase of SIR in Andaman & Nicobar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
Additionally, 11,40,598 Booth Level Agents (BLAs) are also engaged in the process in the above-mentioned states and UTs.
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