Two BLOs in Kerala, Rajasthan die by suicide; families allege SIR-related pressure
New Delhi: Two booth-level officers (BLOs) involved in the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls have died by suicide in Kerala and Rajasthan, triggering concerns about rising field-level stress during the voter list update exercise. While families and teachers’ groups have alleged excessive work pressure, district administrations in both states have denied any link between SIR duties and the deaths, citing official data and ongoing inquiries.
In Kerala’s Kannur district, 44-year-old school office assistant and BLO Aneesh George was found dead at his home on Sunday, The Indian Express reported. His family and friends told the newspaper that George had been overwhelmed by the pressure to complete the enumeration work assigned to him under the SIR programme.
George had been allotted the 18th booth in Payyannur taluk, but according to a friend quoted by Express, he was unfamiliar with the area and struggled to distribute the required enumeration forms. Another friend told the paper that George had sought help from booth-level agents of political parties but did not receive support.
However, the Kannur district administration issued a detailed press release rejecting the claim that work pressure contributed to his death. It stated that George’s progress “was consistent with both district and constituency levels” and that “at no stage were special targets, pressures, or deadlines issued to him.”
According to the administration, of the 1,065 enumeration forms in the booth, 825 had been distributed, and although 240 were initially shown as pending, updates on November 15 revealed that only 50 remained because many had been delivered earlier but not digitally marked. As of November 16, the district had completed 87.28 percent of form distribution, slightly below the Kerala average of 91.26 percent.
The administration further stated that initial enquiries by the police and district officials found “no linkage” between SIR duties and the suicide. “The cause of the suicide remains unclear pending further investigation,” the statement said.
Mathrubhumi reported that Kerala’s Chief Electoral Officer Rathan U Kelkar noted that the revision process is typically completed within 31 days and that no earlier complaints of excessive pressure had been received.
But the panchayat president of Kankol-Alappadamba, M.V. Sunil Kumar, contradicted the official version. Speaking to The Hindu, he said George had been under “extreme pressure” and had repeatedly told superiors that he could not cope with the workload. According to him, officials insisted that the work must be completed regardless.
A similar incident was reported from Rajasthan’s Jaipur district, where 45-year-old Mukesh Jangid, a government school teacher and BLO, died on Sunday after allegedly jumping in front of a train near the Bindayaka railway crossing. Bindayaka SHO Vinod Verma confirmed the incident, though detailed findings are awaited.
According to a PTI report, Jangid’s brother Gajanand claimed to have recovered a suicide note in which Jangid wrote that he was under severe stress due to SIR duties, and that a supervisor had pressured him and threatened suspension.
The Times of India reported that Jangid, a resident of Kalwad village, had been assigned BLO responsibilities in Jaipur’s Jhotwara area.
His death has sparked unrest among teachers’ groups in the state. Rajasthan Primary and Secondary Teachers’ Association president Vipin Prakash Sharma told PTI that competition among administrative divisions to top SIR performance rankings was creating “excessive pressure” on BLOs. He said the association would submit a memorandum to the chief minister urging a halt to undue pressure, especially with half-yearly examinations approaching.
The two deaths, reported from different states within the same 24-hour period—have widened the debate over the stress faced by booth-level officers during the Election Commission’s ongoing voter list revision. While administrations in Kerala and Rajasthan insist no connection has been established, families and teachers’ groups say field officers are being burdened beyond capacity in the push to meet SIR targets.
Both cases remain under investigation.
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345 Indian fishermen stranded in Iran return home via Armenia
New Delhi (PTI): A group of 345 Indian fishermen, who were stranded in Iran amid escalating regional tensions, returned to India via Armenia on Saturday, officials said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar thanked his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan for assistance in return of the Indian nationals.
The Indian nationals arrived in Chennai this evening, the officials cited above said.
The circumstances that led to them being stranded in Iran were not immediately known.
"Thank FM @AraratMirzoyan and the Government of Armenia for facilitating the evacuation of Indian fishermen today from Iran, through Armenia to India," Jaishankar said on social media.
Over 1,500 Indian nationals have left Iran through land border crossings in Armenia and Azerbaijan since the start of the West Asia conflict over a month ago.
"A group of Indian fishermen, stranded in Iran, are returning home via Armenia today; their flight is expected to reach India this evening," a government statement said.
It said the Ministry of External Affairs continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in the West Asian region, with the safety, security and welfare of the Indian community being accorded the highest priority.
It also made a mention of five Indians being injured in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
According to Abu Dhabi authorities, the Indian nationals were among the 12 people injured by debris from an intercepted missile.
"In an attack in Abu Dhabi, five Indian nationals were injured; four have been discharged, one remains under treatment," the Indian government's statement said.
It said the Indian mission in Abu Dhabi is extending "full" assistance and coordinating with local authorities, adding that their flight is expected to reach India this evening.
