EC begins training booth-level officers for SIR in West Bengal
_vb_69.jpeg)
Kolkata (PTI): The Election Commission on Saturday began a training programme for booth-level officers (BLOs) in West Bengal for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The training programme, being held in various districts, would be completed by November 3, with the SIR process scheduled to begin the following day, officials said.
In south Kolkata's Nazrul Mancha, training was underway for BLOs of Bhabanipur, Rashbehari, Ballygunge, Tollygunge, Kasba, Jadavpur, Metiabruz, Behala Purba and Behala Paschim assembly constituencies, they said.
The sessions are being held in batches, they added.
The EC has issued a 16-point guideline for BLOs as part of the SIR exercise, and introduced a new mobile app to streamline field operations, officials said.
During the training, BLOs are being provided with special kits and detailed instructions on the SIR process, they added.
From November 4 to December 4, BLOs will visit households to carry out voter verification and form-filling work.
A section of the booth-level officers, however, raised concern over the security aspect during the exercise.
"Yes, there are some concerns about security as we have to work at the grassroots level," said a BLO who participated in the training.
Another BLO, who also did not wish to be named, said, "Such duties always carry certain risks, as seen in past elections, but we must follow the rules and carry out our work without fear."
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
FIR against 2 women corporators of Congress in Indore over refusal to sing 'Vande Mataram'
Indore (PTI): Police registered a case against two women corporators of the Congress in Madhya Pradesh's Indore on Wednesday on the charge of disturbing communal harmony for their refusal to sing the national song 'Vande Mataram', an official said.
During the Indore Municipal Corporation's budget session on April 8, Congress corporator Fauzia Sheikh Alim refused to sing 'Vande Mataram' citing Islamic beliefs.
Another corporator, Rubina Iqbal Khan, who joined the Congress after winning the civic election as an independent candidate, also supported Fauzia's stance and refused to sing the national song.
Talking to PTI, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Amarendra Singh said following a probe into a complaint, a case has been registered against Fauzia and Rubina at the M G Road police station under section 196 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) (acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony between different communities).
The police summoned both the corporators for questioning over the past two days and recorded their statements, he said.
"Finally, finding the case prima facie cognisable, we have registered an FIR and initiated a detailed investigation," Singh said.
