Election Chaos: BLO Attacked in West Bengal

A booth-level officer (BLO) was seriously injured in West Bengal's Nadia district after being allegedly assaulted during a voter data verification exercise, according to the police. The officer, Ali Saheb, was attacked while investigating 'logical discrepancies' in voter data, as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

The incident occurred when Saheb informed a resident, Alifa Bibi, and her husband, Ayatullah Sheikh, that they needed to attend a special hearing to correct document inconsistencies. Sheikh allegedly struck the BLO with a stick, causing severe head injuries, prompting medical intervention.

However, Sheikh has denied the assault allegations, filing a counter-complaint accusing the BLO of harassment. Police continue to investigate both claims amid rising concerns over the safety of field-level election workers who perform door-to-door verification tasks.