The Election Commission on Wednesday wrote to Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma, alleging a “serious security breach” during a protest by booth-level officers at the office of the chief electoral officer on Monday, ANI reported.
The commission has sought an action-taken report within 48 hours.
The poll body’s letter came after a demonstration by the BLO Adhikar Raksha Committee, which gathered outside the chief electoral officer’s office to protest excessive work pressure during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, The Indian Express reported.
The protest began as a rally but escalated when some members stayed overnight inside the official premises, insisting on meeting Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal, the newspaper reported.
The special intensive revision of voter rolls is underway in 12 states and Union Territories, including West Bengal. Booth-level officers began distributing enumeration forms on November 4.
Assembly polls are expected to take place in West Bengal in the first half of 2026.
Five suicides by booth-level officers have been reported across the country during the current revision exercise.
On November 22, a booth-level officer was found hanging in her home in Krishnanagar in Nadia district. On November 19, another BLO was found hanging outside her home in Jalpaiguri. Families of both women alleged that they had been under severe pressure because of the revision workload.
The poll body’s letter to the police said that the security arrangements at the chief electoral officer’s office appeared “inadequate” to manage the situation, posing a potential threat to Agarwal and other officials.
The commission also directed the police to ensure the safety of officers posted there, including protection at their homes and during their commutes.
It also instructed that “adequate security classification” be undertaken in view of the sensitivity of the special revision and the upcoming elections to prevent any further incidents.
Copies of the letter were sent to the chief secretary, home secretary, director general of police and the CEO.
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