TWO DEATHS and multiple complaints from Booth Level Officer (BLOs) of “excessive workload and unreasonable demands and targets” are threatening to disrupt the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in at least three states — Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan.

In Kerala, a political storm is simmering over the alleged suicide of BLO Aneesh George on Sunday. George, 44, the BLO for booth number 18 under Payyanur Assembly seat in Kannur district, was found dead in his house. No suicide note was recovered but his family and close friends alleged that George, an office attendant at a school, was under pressure to complete his job within the stipulated time, that is, by December 4. On Monday, BLOs in the state boycotted work protesting George’s “suicide”. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW VI

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