'EC, SIR Will Be Responsible': After BLO’s Suicide In Kerala, Another Officer Threatens Suicide

Days after a Booth Level Officer (BLO) in Kerala’s Kannur district allegedly died by suicide due to mental pressure linked to Special Intensive Revision (SIR) duties, another officer posted at Kottayam

district has threatened to take the extreme step alleging similar reason.

According to India Today, the officer, identified as Antony serving as the BLO of booth 110 in the Poonjar constituency, shared an audio message on the officers’ WhatsApp group detailing his distress. In the voice note, he reportedly said he is “mentally broken” and unable to bear the workload.

He said: “For one week, I went to all houses and gave the form. Most of them are giving it back without filling one side of it. I have to find basic details and their 2002 details also. You people are not providing basic internet for all this. You are exploiting us. You are mentally and physically torturing us.”

He further said that he may “end up killing someone or someone might kill” him due to the extreme stress. He urged the authorities to relieve him from the SIR responsibilities while threatening to consume poison in front of the village office if his request is not approved.

“I will consume poison and die in front of the village office. That’s how bad my situation is Officers can say whatever they want sitting in the AC room. They don’t understand our issues. If I die by suicide, this election commission and SIR will be responsible for it,” he said in the message.

This comes days after a BLO in Kannur district, identified as Aneesh George, 44, a school employee serving as a BLO for the SIR of electoral rolls, was found hanging inside his home.

According to the FIR, George had been under mounting mental pressure from duties linked to the ongoing SIR exercise and preparations for the upcoming local body polls, India Today reported.

Family members and local residents said George had been working late into the night to meet his targets.

“His family said he was working till 2 am on Sunday, under immense pressure to complete SIR-related forms and distribute them across his designated area,” Shyam, a family acquaintance, told reporters. Police have registered a case of unnatural death.

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