School Employee Dies by Suicide Amid Election Duty Pressure
A tragic incident has shaken Kerala's electoral machinery as a school employee serving as a Booth Level Officer was found dead in his home on Sunday. Aneesh George, who worked as a peon in a government school in Payyannur, was discovered hanging in the hall of his first-floor residence in this north Kerala district, according to police reports.
The shocking death has ignited widespread concerns about the immense pressure faced by election officials during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Family members and local residents have pointed to work-related stress as the primary reason behind this extreme step.
Family Reveals Disturbing Work Schedule
According to close family sources, George had been working under tremendous pressure to complete his BLO duties. Shyam, a family acquaintance, revealed to reporters that George had been working until 2:00 am on Sunday, just hours before his death.
"His family said that Aneesh George was working till 2.00 am on Sunday. They mentioned he was under immense pressure to complete the filling of forms related to SIR and distribute them among everyone in the designated area," Shyam stated, painting a grim picture of the deceased's final hours.
The incident has brought the spotlight on the Special Intensive Revision process that has been underway in preparation for the upcoming local body elections. The FIR registered in the case specifically notes that the deceased had been under pressure for some time in connection with his BLO responsibilities.
Political Parties Voice Strong Criticism
The tragedy has triggered strong reactions from major political parties across Kerala. Both ruling and opposition parties have expressed concern about the working conditions of Booth Level Officers.
CPI(M) leader M V Jayarajan stated, "Due to the extreme workload, he might have felt that there was no option other than ending his own life. His death was extremely unfortunate." The leader confirmed that his party had been raising concerns about the work pressure experienced by BLOs in connection with the SIR.
Congress leader Rijil Makkutty went further, alleging that George was a victim of the Election Commission's attempt to implement SIR ahead of local body polls to fulfil the BJP agenda. The political commentary has added a new dimension to the tragedy, turning it into a significant election issue.
Jayarajan has called on the Election Commission to pause the implementation of SIR in the state until the LSGD elections are completed, highlighting the urgent need to address the concerns raised by this incident.
Official Response and Investigation
Kerala Chief Electoral Officer Rathan U. Kelkar has responded to the incident by requesting a detailed report from the Kannur district collector. A police investigation is currently underway to determine the exact circumstances leading to George's death.
"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," Kelkar told reporters.
The official also clarified that BLOs are only required to perform duties related to SIR for 31 days and normally shouldn't experience work pressure. However, he emphasized that the police investigation and district collector's report would reveal all details about the incident.
This tragic event has raised serious questions about the working conditions of election staff and the implementation of intensive revision processes, with calls growing for better support systems and workload management for those serving in crucial electoral roles.
