The political controversy surrounding the mysterious death of a Booth Level Officer (BLO) in Murshidabad took a new turn on Monday after police investigations revealed a financial dispute, contradicting earlier allegations of work pressure linked to Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter list duties.
Hamimul Islam, a BLO from Alaipur village under Akhiriganj Gram Panchayat in Bhagwangola Block II, was initially alleged to have died by suicide due to excessive pressure related to the ongoing SIR exercise.
His body was recovered from inside a village school on Saturday night, triggering tension and unrest in the area and protests by Trinamool Congress (TMC)-affiliated BLOs, who marched in front of the Election Commission office, accusing authorities of creating an atmosphere of intimidation.
However, police officials said subsequent investigation pointed to a different cause.
According to investigators, a man identified as Bullet Khan had allegedly borrowed Rs 20 lakh from Hamimul Islam and failed to return the money despite repeated requests. “Local sources said that when Hamimul demanded repayment, he was allegedly threatened with dire consequences,” said a police officer.
Also Read: Bankura BLO dies by suicide due to work stress; TMC targets EC
Police believe that sustained pressure and threats linked to the unpaid loan may have driven Hamimul to take the extreme step. Based on these findings, Bullet Khan, a resident of the Ranitala police station area, was arrested on Monday and produced before the Lalbagh Sub-Divisional Court, which remanded him to five days of police custody.
Following preliminary inquiry, police have registered a case against the accused under sections related to abetment to suicide.
The case has also sparked sharp political reactions, with local BJP leaders alleging that the ruling TMC was deliberately misleading the public by spreading misinformation for political gain. “The truth is being distorted to divert attention from the real cause,” a BJP leader claimed.
On the other hand, Bappaditya Banerjee, convenor of the BLO Adhikar Mancha (BLO Rights Forum), expressed concern over the politicisation of the incident. “Even the death of a worker is being turned into a game. Our fight to protect the rights and dignity of BLOs will continue,” he said.
As the controversy deepens, police officials said the investigation remains open and all possible angles are being examined to determine whether additional factors contributed to Hamimu’s death.
Follow us
