The ongoing Summary Revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal has been clouded by tragedy following the deaths of three Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in separate incidents. The deaths, occurring in quick succession, have sparked concerns and allegations from families, even as official sources point to underlying health conditions.
Details of the Deceased BLOs
The first case was reported from North Dinajpur district. Bipin Toppo (45), a BLO from Chopra, passed away on Friday morning. While his family has claimed his death was linked to pressure related to the Special Summary Revision (SIR) of voter lists, sources close to the administration indicated that Toppo had a history of high blood pressure and was on regular medication.
In a separate but related incident, a 37-year-old BLO named Amit Kumar Mondal from Katwa in Purba Bardhaman district has been missing since December 23. The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal, citing a police report, stated that Mondal had taken a substantial bank loan of Rs 50 lakh to invest in the stock market, which subsequently failed. This financial distress is being investigated as a potential reason for his disappearance.
Deaths Following Hearing Notices
Adding to the grim situation, three other deaths have been reported among individuals involved in the SIR process. Notably, all three passed away after receiving hearing notices related to the electoral roll revision.
In West Midnapore, Alam Khan (65) from Chandrakona Block 2 allegedly suffered chest pain and died on Friday morning. In Birbhum district, Malek Seikh (63) succumbed to a heart attack on Thursday. Another case was reported from Murshidabad, where Nimai Mal (44) of Jitarpur village died of a heart attack on Friday afternoon.
Official Response and Mounting Pressure
The series of unfortunate events has put a spotlight on the immense pressure faced by ground-level election officials during the crucial revision process. BLOs are responsible for door-to-door verification and updating the voter list, a task with strict deadlines and high accountability.
While the families of some deceased have directly linked the deaths to SIR-related stress, election authorities have so far provided alternative explanations based on medical histories and personal circumstances, as in the cases of Toppo and Mondal. The administration is likely to review the operational pressures on BLOs to ensure their well-being while maintaining the integrity of the electoral revision process.
