West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has reacted to the death of a Booth Level Officer (BLO) Rinku Tarafdar who allegedly committed suicide and blamed tremendous work pressure from the Election Commission for forcing her to take the extreme step.
Taking a jibe at the Election Commission over the BLO’s suicide, Mamata Banerjee wrote on social media on Saturday, “Profoundly shocked to know of the death of yet another BLO, a lady para- teacher, who has committed suicide at Krishnanagar today. BLO of part number 201 of AC 82 Chapra, Smt Rinku Tarafdar, has blamed ECI in her suicide note before committing suicide at her residence today. How many more lives will be lost? How many more need to die for this SIR? How many more dead bodies shall we see for this process? This has become truly alarming now!!”
Profoundly shocked to know of the death of yet another BLO, a lady para- teacher,who has committed suicide at Krishnanagar today . BLO of part number 201 of AC 82 Chapra, Smt Rinku Tarafdar, has blamed ECI in her suicide note ( copy is attached herewith) before committing… pic.twitter.com/xG0TyD4VNy
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) November 22, 2025
BLO’s suicide in Krishnanagar, West Bengal
An unusual death of a female BLO has been reported from West Bengal’s Krishnanagar. Her body was recovered from her residence on Saturday morning, November 22. According to police, a suicide note was recovered from the house. In the note, the woman has blamed the Election Commission for her death. She wrote in the suicide note that she was forced to take such an extreme step because she could not bear the excessive pressure of work.
The deceased has been identified as Rinku Tarafdar. The 54-year-old woman was a part-time teacher at Chapra Bangalji Swami Vivekananda Vidya Mandir. She was the BLO of booth number 201 of Chapra Panchayat number 2. Her body was recovered from her house on Saturday morning. According to police sources, a suicide note was found beside her body which read, “I want to live. My family is financially stable. But for this small job, they forced me to die.”
BLO deaths in West Bengal
It is worth mentioning that several BLOs have lost their lives amid ongoing SIR in West Bengal. Shanti Muni Ekka, an Anganwadi worker and tribal woman BLO in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district died by suicide on November 19, 2025. Her family claimed she was under significant stress and had attempted to resign, but her resignation was not accepted.
Namita Hansda, a 50-year-old BLO in Purba Bardhaman district died after suffering a cerebral stroke on November 9, 2025. Her family alleged she was under pressure to complete work within tight deadlines.
Lalit Adhikari, a BLO from Cooch Behar district died in a road accident on November 21, 2025, while on duty.
Mamata Bannerjee urges ECI to halt SIR in West Bengal
Citing excess pressure on BLOs and deaths, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to halt the SIR drive. The CM claimed that a total of 28 residents of the state have died since the process began, some due to fear, uncertainty, stress, and overload. The state government has also announced compensation for the families of the deceased officers.