The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has issued a stern condemnation following a violent attack on the Block Development Officer’s (BDO) office in Farakka, Murshidabad. Citing a total collapse of law and order, the party is now urging the Election Commission of India (ECI) to deploy central paramilitary forces to oversee the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal.
The Incident: Violence at the ERO Office
The unrest broke out on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, when an angry mob—allegedly led by Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Monirul Islam—stormed the BDO’s office. The protesters were reportedly agitated over the SIR process, claiming that citizens were being harassed and summoned for hearings regarding minor clerical errors in their voter forms.
The situation quickly escalated into a rampage. The mob vandalized the premises and ransacked the chamber of the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO), bringing the ongoing voter list hearings to a complete standstill.
Security Crisis: Observers Withdraw from Duty
The violence has triggered a crisis within the administrative ranks. In the wake of the assault, 55 micro-observers submitted a formal protest letter to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal. Citing a critical failure in security and fears for their personal safety, the observers have officially withdrawn from SIR duties.
Two individuals have been arrested so far. An FIR has been filed under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property (PDPP) Act, 1984.
BJP Leadership Reacts
The BJP top brass has characterized the incident as a state-sponsored attempt to derail the transparency of the electoral process.
Amit Malviya (BJP IT Cell Chief): In a post on X, Malviya described the event as a “murderous attack” on constitutional officials. He held Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee directly responsible, stating, “Violence and intimidation cannot be allowed to undermine the electoral process.” He called on the ECI to hold the entire chain of command, from the DGP to the SP, accountable.
Suvendu Adhikari (Leader of the Opposition): Adhikari expressed outrage over the injuries sustained by two officials during the assault. He alleged that the TMC regime is attempting to “dilute the SIR exercise to manipulate voter lists.” He formally requested Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to invoke Article 324 of the Constitution to take direct control of the process and deploy central forces to ensure the safety of officials.
While the state police have made preliminary arrests, the SIR process remains disrupted in the Farakka constituency. The Election Commission has yet to issue a formal statement on whether additional security measures or central intervention will be granted to complete the voter list revision.