Kolkata, 16 January (H.S.):

In connection with the death of Booth Level Officer (BLO) Ashok Das in Kolkata, his wife Sudipta Das on Friday lodged a formal complaint with the police, alleging that excessive work pressure related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise drove her husband to take his own life.

In her written complaint submitted at the East Jadavpur police station, Sudipta stated that Ashok Das had been under severe mental stress ever since he was assigned SIR-related duties. She urged the police to conduct a fair and thorough investigation into the matter.

Ashok Das was found hanging in the bathroom of his residence at Ahalyanagar in the Mukundapur area on Thursday morning. Family members rushed him to a private hospital along the EM Bypass, where doctors declared him dead. The incident triggered tension in the locality.

The case has also taken a political turn, with allegations and counter-allegations surfacing. BJP councillor Sajal Ghosh had earlier alleged that Trinamool Congress councillor Ananya Bandyopadhyay and a Trinamool-linked BLA-2, Raju Biswas, had threatened Ashok Das and his family, leading to fear and mental distress that allegedly resulted in his suicide.

However, in her complaint, the deceased’s wife has directly held the Election Commission and the BLO work system responsible. She claimed that after being entrusted with BLO duties, her husband remained under constant psychological pressure.

According to sources at the East Jadavpur police station, a case has been registered under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (abetment to suicide), and an investigation has been initiated. Police have also recovered a purported suicide note from the table in Ashok Das’s room, in which he reportedly mentioned his inability to cope with work pressure. The note stated: “I cannot bear the pressure of SIR work anymore. My health is deteriorating. Therefore, I am leaving this world to be with my parents.”

Ashok Das was an assistant teacher at Baharu High School in the Jaynagar area of South 24 Parganas. Alongside his teaching responsibilities, he was serving as a BLO under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision programme in West Bengal. He was assigned to Booth No. 110 at Chitkalikapur FP School in the East Jadavpur area. Colleagues said he continued regular teaching duties in addition to his election-related responsibilities.

Denying allegations of threats, Trinamool Congress councillor Ananya Bandyopadhyay said she knew Ashok Das personally and had close ties with his family. She claimed that most of the SIR work in her area had already been completed and that no other BLO had complained of undue pressure. She also dismissed claims of political interference in the matter.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh