Malda Booth-Level Officer Succumbs to Cardiac Arrest, Family Cites SIR-Related Stress as Cause
A 55-year-old booth-level officer (BLO) in Malda district passed away due to a cardiac arrest on Saturday night, with his family members directly attributing the fatality to the overwhelming workload and stress associated with the Summary Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The incident has ignited discussions about the pressures faced by electoral officials during voter list updates.
Details of the Deceased Officer and His Responsibilities
Utpal Thokdar, a resident of Naoda Para who also worked as a para-teacher, served as the BLO for booth 93 in Chandrapara panchayat under Chanchal Police Station. According to family statements, Thokdar was experiencing severe mental strain in the days leading up to the publication of the first supplementary list of voters marked "under adjudication."
In the final electoral rolls published on February 28, a total of 110 voters from Thokdar's assigned booth were listed under adjudication status. These individuals frequently approached Thokdar, holding him personally accountable for their SIR classification and seeking clarifications, which reportedly exacerbated his anxiety.
Family Accounts and Allegations of Excessive Pressure
"My husband often expressed fear that these voters would blame him if they were ultimately excluded from the list, and this worry consumed him," revealed his widow, Subhra Thokdar. A close relative further elaborated, stating, "He was under immense mental stress over the last several days. This tragic situation arose directly from the pressure linked to the SIR process."
Malda district, with approximately eight lakh individuals placed under adjudication, holds the second-highest number of such cases across all districts in West Bengal, highlighting the scale of the administrative challenge.
Medical Emergency and Aftermath
Thokdar began suffering from chest pain on Saturday morning and was promptly rushed to the Chanchal Sub-Division Hospital. Despite medical efforts, he succumbed to the cardiac arrest in the evening. As the sole earning member of his household, Thokdar leaves behind his wife and two daughters, plunging the family into financial uncertainty.
In response, local villagers have demanded that the government provide compensation to Thokdar's bereaved family. MLA Rahim Bakshi, who also serves as the district Trinamool Congress president, commented, "The Election Commission and the BJP should take responsibility for this death. The enormous SIR workload, combined with the uncertainty surrounding the fate of these voters, directly led to this fatality."
Context of Similar Incidents in Malda
This is not an isolated case in Malda. On March 13, Abul Barkat, a teacher and BLO in Kaliachak, died from a heart attack. In his booth, 850 out of 1,300 voters were under adjudication, subjecting him to significant public pressure. Additionally, Anikul Alam, another teacher from Kaliachak High School, also passed away due to a heart attack recently, though specific details linking his death to electoral duties were not provided.
No formal police complaint has been filed in connection with Thokdar's death, leaving the matter primarily in the realm of public discourse and political accountability. The incident underscores the critical need for addressing the mental health and workload management of electoral officials during high-stakes administrative processes like voter list revisions.
