Kolkata police: Following a demonstration outside the CEO’s office file a suo motu complaint against BLOs
Kolkata police: A suo motu case has been filed by Kolkata Police against a group of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) for allegedly damaging government property during a protest in central Kolkata, obstructing on-duty police officers, and attempting to forcefully enter the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal.
The complaint has been lodged at Hare Street Police Station under various legal provisions, according to sources at Lalbazar (Kolkata police headquarters) on Tuesday. An inquiry is in progress after CCTV video from the protest location was gathered.
A bunch of BLOs held a protest outside the CEO’s office on Monday, which led to the incident. Some demonstrators allegedly tried to get past security measures by scaling barriers, according to the police. A brawl started when police interfered to maintain order. According to authorities, three police officers were hurt in the incident, and one suspect has been placed under arrest.
Since the release of the draft electoral roll, the Election Commission’s application has undergone several modifications, according to the protesting BLOs, which has caused confusion and psychological strain among booth personnel.
They further said that the Commission is not giving sufficient justifications despite issuing many directions. They claim that individuals are also concerned about mistakes discovered in the draft voter list.
In an attempt to schedule a meeting with the Chief Electoral Officer, members of the BLO Rights Protection Committee visited the CEO’s office on Monday. Tensions increased after the apparent reluctance to meet them, and the conflict resulted from demonstrators trying to breach police barriers.
For interfering with police work, causing damage to government property, and upsetting law and order, a suo motu complaint has been filed. After reviewing CCTV video, further action would be taken, a top Kolkata Police official said.
Notably, the BLO Rights Protection Committee has been protesting their demands by staging a sit-in outside the CEO’s office for a number of days.