Bankura (West Bengal): Since the announcement of Intensive Revision of Voter List (SIR) in Bengal, there have been continuous reports of death and mental pressure of Booth Level Officers (BLOs). Meanwhile, another horrific case of work pressure on BLO has come to light. The hanging body of a booth level officer (BLO) was recovered from a primary school classroom in Rajkata area of Ranibandh assembly constituency of Bankura district.
The family members of the deceased claim that school headmaster Hardhan Mandal took this extreme step due to the unbearable pressure of BLO duty. All India General Secretary of Trinamool Congress, Abhishek Banerjee has held BJP responsible for this death. Meanwhile, the police has started investigation to find out the cause of death. Bankura Superintendent of Police Soumyadeep Bhattacharya said, “The entire matter will be investigated and legal action will be taken.”
note found at the scene
Police have found a note from the spot. It read, “I can’t take the pressure anymore, goodbye.” In the end it was written, “Even after doing everything right, I made a mistake. Please forgive me.” As soon as the news was received, the police of Ranibandh police station reached the spot. Later the body was sent to Bankura Sammilani Medical College for postmortem.
How was the death known?
Hardhan Mandal, headmaster of Rajkata Majherpara Primary School, Bankura, was the BLO in-charge of booth number 206 of Ranibandh assembly constituency. Some voters of his booth were called for hearing. Hardhan had left home that day at around 10 am on the pretext of collecting documents for these voters. After that no trace of him could be found. Later, his family members went to school searching for him and found his hanging body in the classroom.
Family members claim that Hardhan was suffering from mental depression due to the pressure of BLO work. He used to work till late night, and this incident is the result of that.
Abhishek Banerjee’s post
Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee posted on social media about this death. He wrote, “The mortality rate continues to rise. Another BLO appointed by the Election Commission has died. He ended his life due to the pressure of the inhumane work of the rapid and politically motivated voter list revision process.”
Abhishek Banerjee further wrote – “Mr. Hardhan Mandal was working at part number 206 of 249 Ranibandh assembly constituency. He has written in his note that he had to take this decision due to pressure. BJP is getting this voter list revision done for its political gains. And due to the fear, pressure and anxiety of this work, more than 50 people have already died.”
