UP: Booth-Level officer dies by suicide over work pressure
What's the story
A 46-year-old Booth-Level Officer (BLO) in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad district allegedly died by suicide, citing work pressure from the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, India Today reported, citing police officials. The victim, Sarvesh Singh, was an assistant teacher who was given BLO duty on October 7. A video, purportedly recorded before his death, shows him breaking down over his inability to complete job responsibilities despite hard work.
Note details
Singh's suicide note reveals work-related stress
Singh was found hanging by his wife, Babli Devi, who immediately alerted the police. A handwritten two-page suicide note addressed to the district Basic Education Officer was recovered from the spot. In it, Singh expressed distress over not being able to meet SIR targets and sleeplessness due to anxiety. "I have been working day and night but am unable to meet the SIR targets," he wrote in the note.
Official response
District Magistrate acknowledges Singh's dedication, probes ongoing
District Magistrate Anuj Kumar Singh confirmed the death and praised Singh's dedication to his work. "Preliminary information suggests he died by suicide. His quality of work was excellent," he said. Both administrative and police investigations are underway into the incident. The Election Commission of India has extended the SIR schedule by a week to give voters more time for electoral roll verification.
Rising concerns
Workload and pressure blamed for recent BLO suicides
Singh's death is the latest in a series of alleged suicides by BLOs, who have cited workload and pressure from senior officials. The incidents have sparked political controversy as voter roll revisions continue across several states. The Election Commission has also given Booth-Level Officers (BLOs) and Booth-Level Agents (BLAs) seven more days to submit lists of absent, shifted, deceased, and duplicate voters.