Report sought on ‘security breach’ at WB CEO’s office

The BLOs were protesting against the alleged work pressure, highlighting the deaths of several of their colleagues across the state while conducting the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in nine states (including West Bengal) and three Union Territories.

“The existing security at the CEO’s office seemed to be inadequate to handle the situation, which could lead to threat to the safety and security of the Chief Electoral Officer, Additional Chief Electoral Officers, Joint Chief Electoral Officers, Deputy Chief Electoral Officers and other officers and staff working in the office of the Chief Electoral Officer,” read the poll body's letter to the police commissioner.

The letter read, “The commission has taken a serious view of the incident and directs that the police authorities should take all possible measures to ensure the safety and security of officers and staff posted in the office of the CEO, at their residences and while commuting.”

“The panel further directs that adequate security classification shall be done on account of the sensitivity involved due to SIR activities and forthcoming elections in the state, and ensure that no untoward incident occurs again,” the EC added in its letter.

The poll body has sought this report from the police commissioner within the next 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the EC sources have dismissed ‘assumptions’ that the deaths or alleged suicides of BLOs might have taken place due to the alleged work pressure during the SIR exercise. They said they had not received any official reports regarding the alleged SIR-related suicides.