Kannur (Kerala) | A school employee, who was working as a Booth Level Officer (BLO) as part of the upcoming local body elections, was found hanging in his house in this north Kerala district on Sunday, police said.
Local people and his family members alleged that Aneesh George (44) took the extreme step due to work pressure in connection with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls.
George was working as a peon in a government school in Payyannur.
Police said he was found hanging in the hall of the first floor of his house in Payyannur.
It is said that the man had been under pressure for some time in connection with the BLO duties, according to the FIR.
George's aged father told reporters that his son had been extremely tensed for some days in connection with SIR related duties.
"I never expected that things would reach this level. No individual or society had any role in his death. As per his nature, he was not accustomed to doing any tough tasks like this. He took the extreme step out of this tension," he said.
Early in the day, Shyam, a person close to George's family, also raised similar charges.
While talking to the media, he said that the deceased had complained about the heavy workload and job stress related to the completion of the SIR related works.
The shocking incident happened at a time when the major political parties, including the ruling CPI (M) and opposition Congress, have been voicing against the implementation of SIR in the state.
While CPI(M) leader M V Jayarajan said they have been pointing out the work pressure experienced by BLOs in connection with the SIR, Congress leader Rijil Makkutty said George was a victim of the Election Commission's attempt to implement it ahead of the local body polls to fulfil the BJP agenda.
"Due to the extreme workload, he might have felt that there was no option other than to end his own life. His death was extremely unfortune," Jayarajan said.
He also urged the Election Commission to hold the implementation of the SIR in the state until the LSGD polls are over.
Local Congress leaders alleged that George had undergone political pressure while delivering his duty as BLO.
They said they would soon release the evidence, including the audio clips, to substantiate their claims.
Chief Electoral Officer of Kerala, Rathan U Kelkar said a report was sought from Kannur district collector on the death.
"A police investigation is also underway. The other things can be decided after receiving the report. The BLOs are working in a collective manner and we have not received any information about their work pressure so far," he told reporters.
He also clarified that the BLOs need not do any job other than the one in connection with the SIR for 31 days and normally there is no chance of any work pressure.
The official also said that the police investigation and the report of the district collector would bring out all details of the incident.
Thiruvananthapuram | The SIR of the electoral roll in Kerala is likely to be disrupted on Monday as various trade unions, including those representing government employees, announced that booth-level officers across the state will boycott work following the suicide of an official in Kannur.
The work boycott was announced by the Action Council of State Government Employees and Teachers, the Joint Committee of Teacher Service Organisations, and the Kerala NGO Association on Sunday.
In a statement, the trade unions said BLOs across the state would abstain from work on Monday.
Joint protest marches are also planned at the office of the Kerala Chief Electoral Officer and at collectorates in all districts.
The organisations alleged that BLOs are under severe pressure due to the Special Intensive Revision process and duties related to the upcoming local body elections.
Although all political parties and service organisations demanded that the SIR be postponed, the Election Commission reportedly refused.
"Instead, it imposed an unrealistic workload with high targets in a very short period. This pressure is pushing BLOs toward suicide," the statement said.
The Kerala NGO Association also announced protest marches to the Chief Electoral Officer’s office and collectorates across the state. Association leaders said the SIR process should be stopped immediately to prevent further suicides.
According to the association, BLOs are being forced to work day and night to revise a voters’ list that was published 23 years ago, without being given sufficient time. They warned that further agitations would be organised in the coming days if an immediate solution is not found.
Aneesh George, 44, a BLO in Payyannur, Kannur, was found hanging in his house on Sunday. Family members and residents alleged that he took the extreme step due to work-related pressure linked to the SIR.
Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, V D Satheesan, said George’s death should be thoroughly probed, as BLOs are facing excessive workloads.
He urged the Election Commission and the state government to conduct a proper inquiry and provide a clear explanation.
"SIR was initiated by the central government. The ongoing process is more intensive than even the preparations for the Assembly elections," he said.