Bengal BLO's tragic death: Suicide note points to Election commission, Mamata Banerjee demands halt to SIR process

Kolkata (The Uttam Hindu): A tragic incident has come to light amidst the ongoing controversy over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in West Bengal. Rinku Tarafdar, a Block Level Officer (BLO) in Nadia district, has committed suicide, after which Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has expressed deep grief and demanded an immediate halt to the process. The Trinamool Congress, calling the incident extremely painful, said that this suicide in Krishnanagar has shocked the administration. It is being told that Rinku Tarafdar was a para-teacher and in her suicide note, she has allegedly held the Election Commission (ECI) responsible for her death.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reacted sharply to the incident, questioning the functioning of the central government and the Election Commission. She asked how many more lives will be lost, and how many more people need to die for SIR? She said, "How many more bodies will we have to see for this process? This situation has become truly alarming." The ruling Trinamool Congress expressed shock, alleging that "inhuman administrative pressure, strict deadlines, and the constant fear of punishment for even minor mistakes" have ruined yet another happy life.

The TMC stated that BLO Rinku Tarafdar, a resident of Sasthitala in Nadia, was mentally broken under the workload and was in an unbearable state. The party said in its statement that the Election Commission's complex digital process, strict timelines, fear of punishment, and round-the-clock surveillance are a form of "mental torture" imposed on its employees, which is unacceptable under any circumstances. The Trinamool Congress also blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the current situation arising out of the SIR process and reiterated its demand for an immediate halt to the process.