Can only hope Bengal will ensure safe environment for poll officials during SIR: EC

The EC’s remarks came after several booth-level officers (BLOs) expressed concerns for their safety while conducting the upcoming exercise.

Sources close to developments indicated that any kind of violence in West Bengal against poll personnel while conducting SIR would give out a negative signal.

Incidentally, during the two-day conference of the Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of all states to review the preparations of the implementation of SIR across nine states (including West Bengal) and three Union Territories, which was held in the national capital between October 22-23, the EC had directed the state officials to maintain utmost sensitivity while conducting the exercise there.

Officials from West Bengal were directed to maintain caution, owing to the politically charged atmosphere over the SIR.

Poll officials were specifically told to remain vigilant while undertaking SIR in rural parts of the state and ensure extreme sensitivity and caution so as to not attract any kind of untoward incident, the EC had directed during the conference.

Safety concerns for poll officials were raised following disruptions in West Bengal during the training for BLOs in Kolkata and other districts on November 1.

In Kolkata, protests erupted at the Nazrul Mancha auditorium, where BLOs from five Assembly constituencies underwent training on Saturday.

Several teachers, who were assigned BLO duties, alleged that their school authorities had marked them ‘absent’ during the training period and demanded that they be marked ‘on duty’ on days they appear for training.

The teachers also sought central security during the training sessions, warning they would not continue work without adequate protection.

Additionally, women teachers have refused to work after evening if central security cover was not provided.

Similar protests by BLOs were reported from the office of the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) in Durgapur.

The matter also took political overtones after the BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of trying to stop the SIR by threatening the BLOs.

The second phase of SIR is to be held in nine states namely West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh as well as the Union Territories of Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep.