ECI directs Kolkata Police to relocate West Bengal CEO office following security breach
The Statesman | 29 November 2025
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a fresh directive to Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma on Friday night, instructing him to ensure the immediate relocation of the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) office to a secure and suitable premises, following a serious security lapse during a recent protest at the office.
The Commission stressed that full-proof security must be guaranteed not only at the existing office but also at the new location once the shift is executed.
The letter, the second in three days, comes after agitation by a section of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) at the CEO’s office, described by the Commission as a serious breach of security. Members of a group calling itself the BLO Adhikar Raksha Samiti staged a protest at the CEO’s premises on Monday, alleging excessive workload during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The demonstrators attempted to meet state CEO Manoj Agarwal without any prior appointment.
When the CEO declined to meet them, around 13 members of the group staged an overnight sit-in, disrupting office operations and preventing the CEO from leaving until past midnight. Officials later alleged that most of the protesters were not actual BLOs, prompting police to intervene and remove the protesters.
The Commission has concluded that the incident amounted to a clear lapse in the security of the CEO’s office. The ECI had first written to the Police Commissioner on Wednesday, directing him to ensure the safety of the CEO, officials, and staff, including securing homes and travel routes. The poll body sought an Action Taken Report (ATR) within 48 hours. Dissatisfied with the vulnerability exposed, the Commission’s latest communication emphasized enhanced security measures and the immediate shifting of the CEO office.
Additionally, the ECI has appointed retired IAS officer Subrata Gupta as Special Observer for the SIR exercise and deployed 12 IAS officers across the state’s 24 electoral districts to monitor the revision process.
The developments unfold amid political scrutiny, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee recently urging the Chief Election Commissioner to suspend the SIR process, citing overburdened and inadequately supported BLOs. Further reports from the ECI on security compliance are awaited as the electoral roll revision continues.