Kerala BLO Dies By Suicide, Family Alleges SIR Pressure; Statewide Protests Erupt

Last Updated:November 17, 2025, 10:15 IST

A BLO in Kannur, Kerala, died by suicide amid SIR duty pressure, sparking protests by government employee groups and calls for inquiry into Election Commission practices.

Jennings drew the death penalty for the murder of Rebecca Kunash, who was raped and drowned in a canal.(Representative Image)

A Booth Level Officer (BLO) in Kerala’s Kannur district allegedly died by suicide on Sunday due to mental pressure linked to Special Intensive Revision (SIR) duties.

The deceased identified as Aneesh George, 44, a school employee serving as a BLO for the SIR of electoral rolls, was found hanging inside his home.

According to the FIR, George had been under mounting mental pressure from duties linked to the ongoing SIR exercise and preparations for the upcoming local body polls, India Today reported.

Family members and local residents said George had been working late into the night to meet his targets.

“His family said he was working till 2 am on Sunday, under immense pressure to complete SIR-related forms and distribute them across his designated area," Shyam, a family acquaintance, told reporters. Police have registered a case of unnatural death.

George’s death has triggered a wave of anger among government employees, with three major organisations, the Action Council of State Government Employees and Teachers, the Joint Committee of Teacher Service Organisations, and the Kerala NGO Association, announcing a statewide boycott of BLO duties on Monday, November 17.

Joint protest marches will be carried out at the Chief Electoral Officer’s office in Thiruvananthapuram and at collectorates in all districts.

The organisations, in their statement, blamed the Election Commission (EC) for ignoring repeated requests to postpone the SIR process.

They alleged that BLOs were being forced to work “day and night" to update a voters’ list published 23 years ago, with “unrealistic targets and an unreasonably short deadline." They warned that protests would intensify if the process is not stopped immediately.

CPI(M) leader M V Jayarajan said the party had long been flagging excessive work pressure on BLOs during SIR. Congress leader Rijil Makkutty alleged that George was a victim of the EC’s push to implement SIR ahead of the polls “to fulfil the BJP agenda."

Both leaders called the suicide “deeply unfortunate", demanding to suspend SIR until after the local body elections.

Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan said George’s death must be thoroughly investigated. He urged the Election Commission and the state government to carry out a proper inquiry and provide a clear explanation.

“SIR was initiated by the central government. The ongoing process is more intensive than even the preparations for the Assembly elections," he said.

Meanwhile, Chief Electoral Officer Rathan U Kelkar said a police investigation is underway and a detailed report has been sought from the Kannur district collector. He said BLOs were “working collectively" and that no formal complaints about work pressure had been received. Kelkar added that BLOs are required to focus exclusively on SIR duties for 31 days, and “normally there is no scope for additional workload."

Suicide Prevention. News 18. If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata)

News india Kerala BLO Dies By Suicide, Family Alleges SIR Pressure; Statewide Protests Erupt

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