‘Mother, please take care of my daughters…’: UP BLO dies by suicide allegedly over SIR pressure

“Mother, please take care of my daughters. Please forgive me. I could not complete the task. I am going to take a drastic step,” said Sarvesh Singh, an assistant teacher in Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad in a purported video shot moments before he allegedly committed suicide.

Singh was assigned Booth Level Officer (BLO) duty on October 7 under the Election Commission of India’s highly-controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls exercise.

Advertisement

He was given the “task” of helping voters to fill their enumeration forms and upload the details to the designated database.

In the video, Singh could be seen weeping and barely able to speak as he lets his family know about the drastic step he was going to take.

“I am in deep distress,” Singh said in the video. “I haven’t been able to sleep for the last 20 days I have four young daughters. Others are able to complete the work, but I am not,” he added.

“I am going far away from this world. Sorry, sister. In my absence, please take care of my children,” the BLO said.

यह BLO सर्वेश सिंह का अंतिम वीडियो है

आत्महत्या से पहले फूट फूट कर रो रहे थे

इनके हत्यारे चुप क्यों हैं? pic.x.com/Rj8qqcsHwD

— Supriya Shrinate (@SupriyaShrinate) December 1, 2025

He also left a handwritten suicide note. In the two-page letter addressed to the Basic Education Officer, he expressed his frustration over not being able to complete the SIR exercise targets under a tight deadline.

“I have been working day and night but am unable to meet the SIR targets. My nights have become unbearable due to anxiety. I barely sleep for two to three hours. I have four daughters, two of whom are unwell. Please forgive me,” read the suicide note.

Singh is not the only one who has allegedly taken his own life over the SIR exercise pressure. In the last one week, at least 10 BLO fatalities have been reported from across the 12 states and Union Territories where the exercise is being held.

The issue was also raised by the opposition Congress party during the Winter Session of Parliament that started today.

“Over 20 BLOs have committed suicide under SIR pressure. Most recently, another BLO, Sarvesh Singh from Moradabad, committed suicide,” Congress deputy leader in Rajya Sabha, Pramod Tiwari told the House.

“How many lives do they want to take?” he asked.

The Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge also urged the House to debate the issue.

“My request to you is to allow us to discuss on SIR. It’s a very important issue, as so many people are dying,” Kharge said.

The ECI has not formally reacted to these deaths but extended the SIR deadline by one week.