28 people have died since SIR began: Mamata Banerjee; West Bengal CM terms it 'inhuman' pressure on field workers

KOLKATA: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday voiced concern over the death of a Booth Level Officer (BLO) in Jalpaiguri's Mal block, alleging that the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has imposed "inhuman" pressure on field workers and led to 28 deaths so far. The chief minister said the deceased — an anganwadi worker engaged as a BLO — died by suicide due to the "unbearable pressure" of the revision exercise being undertaken by the Election Commission of India (ECI). In a strongly worded statement posted on X, Banerjee criticised the Election Commission for what she described as an "unplanned, relentless workload" ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. "Deeply shocked and saddened. Today again, we lost a Booth Level Officer in