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New Bengal BLO Suicide Deepens Clash Over Voter Roll Revision

The Election Commission is weighing state reports after fresh deaths were reported during the time‑bound roll update.

Overview

  • A 52-year-old booth-level officer, Rinku Tarafdar, was found dead at her home in Nadia, with police recovering a note as her family alleged unbearable pressure from Special Intensive Revision duties.
  • West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee shared the note claiming it blamed the Election Commission and renewed her request to halt the exercise in the state, as the CEO sought a report on the case.
  • Election Commission sources said the panel may ask state chief electoral officers for reports if deaths are linked to alleged work harassment, while stressing that the revision is a constitutional mandate.
  • Recent cases beyond Bengal include a Gujarat schoolteacher who died by suicide after citing SIR-related stress in a note and two deaths in Madhya Pradesh that relatives linked to heavy targets and workload.
  • A political confrontation has escalated, with the TMC accusing the process of imposing inhuman pressure and the BJP alleging the ruling party is pressuring BLOs to upload incorrect voter details.