Kerala BLO Claims Severe Mental Torture from SIR Duties, Threatens Suicide in Audio Message

A Booth Level Officer (BLO) from Kerala’s Kottayam district has sparked serious concern after an audio message surfaced in which he accuses election officials of “mental torture” linked to the ongoing Special Summary Revision (SIR). The officer, identified as Antony, is posted as BLO for Booth 110 in the Poonjar constituency and also works at a polytechnic institute in Idukki.

In the audio shared on an official officers’ WhatsApp group, Antony is heard describing severe emotional distress, overwhelming workload, and lack of support from higher authorities. His message has renewed debate over the exhausting conditions faced by ground-level electoral staff during the SIR drive.

‘Mentally broken… pushed to the edge’

In the voice message, Antony says he has reached his breaking point due to the pressure of collecting updated voter details from every household. According to him, despite visiting homes for a full week and distributing forms, many residents returned the documents incomplete, leaving the BLOs to manually trace missing information — including old electoral records from 2002.

He alleged that the system is forcing BLOs to work without basic facilities, including stable internet access, making the process nearly impossible.

“I am mentally broken. You are exploiting us. You are mentally and physically torturing us,” he said in the audio message.

Antony further claims the workload and pressure are so overwhelming that he fears he may “harm himself or someone else.” The officer pleaded to be relieved from SIR responsibilities immediately.

Threat to consume poison in front of village office

What has heightened alarm is Antony’s threat to end his life. In the audio, he warns that if the authorities do not intervene, he will consume poison in front of the village office as a mark of protest.

“If I die by suicide, this Election Commission and the SIR process will be responsible,” he stated, adding that officers “sitting in AC rooms” cannot understand the ground reality.

The message has triggered concern among colleagues and has raised broader questions about the intense workload placed on BLOs during the statewide enumeration.

Growing scrutiny on SIR workload

Kerala, like several other states, is conducting the Special Summary Revision to update electoral rolls. BLOs have complained in the past about unrealistic deadlines, inadequate manpower, and lack of logistical support. Antony’s distress call is expected to increase pressure on the Election Commission to review working conditions and provide immediate relief.

Officials have yet to issue an official statement on the incident.