File photo NEW DELHI: Election Commission on Wednesday sought Supreme Court’s urgent intervention to curb and prevent, what it called, a systematic pattern of violence and threats against its officials conducting the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal and alleged that while the CM’s speeches encouraged such situations, police are reluctant to register FIRs against the perpetrators.Comparing smooth conduct of SIR in other states to that in Bengal where those involved in the roll revision have been “targeted”, EC, in its affidavit, said, “It unequivocally illustrates that the challenges encountered in West Bengal are not intrinsic to the SIR process itself, but are a direct result of the inadequacies of the state machinery and the prevailing climate of political interference therein.”“This singular and alarming breakdown demands immediate intervention of SC to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process,” it said, adding “the CM has persistently delivered a series of public addresses that are inherently provocative, thereby engendering an atmosphere of intimidation among election officials”.EC claimed that on Jan 14 the CM, during a press conference, “engaged in fear mongering, disseminated misleading and erroneous information regarding the SIR process, overtly threatened and targeted poll officials, and sought to incite alarm among the electorate”.“The CM explicitly identified and targeted a micro-observer Hari Das, thereby publicly isolating an election official performing statutory duties and subjecting him to unwarranted pressure and intimidation… gravely compromising the independence, neutrality and safety of election officials,” the poll panel said on a day when CM Mamata Banerjee argued against the roll revision in SC.As a result, nine micro-observers in Murshidabad constituency collectively wrote to the West Bengal chief electoral officer (CEO), formally withdrawing from the SIR process due to violent assaults perpetrated by miscreants and inadequate security provisions, it said, adding on Jan 15, a mob of 700 attacked the place where SIR work was being carried out in Uttar Dinajpur district.Complaining that police authorities are reluctant to register FIRs on complaints lodged by booth level officers (BLOs), EC said, “In certain instances, FIRs were documented only subsequent to intervention by the district election officer, with arrests occurring belatedly thereafter.” It said other state police have promptly registered FIRs on complaints by EC officials.Given the ground situation, the Centre has provided ‘Y+ security’ cover to the WB CEO, the only officer among his peers in all states to get such security cover, EC said.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosEAM Jaishankar, Marco Rubio Underscore De-Risking Supply Chains At US Critical Minerals MeetOppn Women MPs Storm Treasury Benches Amid Protests: Inside PM Modi’s Lok Sabha Speech Cancellation‘This is the era for India’: BlackRock CEO Larry Fink Hails New Delhi’s Economic Rise’Agriculture, Dairy Protected’: Piyush Goyal Cheers India-US Pact; Jaishankar Meets Trump Top Aides’Insulted Sikh Community’: Hardeep Puri Slams Rahul Gandhi Over ‘Traitor’ Remark At Ravneet BittuRahul Gandhi Defends Naravane Memoir Quotes, Priyanka Questions Nishikant Dubey Quotes On Nehru’Justice Is Crying…’: Mamata Banerjee Takes EC Head On In Supreme Court Over SIR Row In Bengal‘Combatise Space Command…L1 Needs To Go.’: Expert Stresses Defence Reforms After Budget 2026India-US Trade Deal Vs India-EU FTA: Which Agreement Delivers Bigger Exports Jobs And GrowthKorean ‘Love Game’ Under Lens After Ghaziabad Sisters Suicide Raises Alarm On Digital Addiction123Photostories5 types of main door locks and which one is perfect for apartments6 reality TV couples who didn’t last: Nick Thompson and Danielle Ruhl, Josh Oyinsan and Mimii Ngulube and moreWhat’s streaming on Apple TV+ in February 2026: New seasons, romance, and monster mayhemFrom India to Russia: Stunning frozen rivers from around the world10 oldest restaurants in Bengaluru and their most popular dishesMeryl Streep films on OTT that highlight her timeless talent5 most expensive buildings from across the world and why they cost so muchMumbai–Pune Expressway turns parking lot as vehicles remain stuck for 12 hoursThis Royal in Asia owns 7000 luxury vehicles including 500 Rolls-Royce, 450 Ferraris and 380 BentleysRosa Parks once said, “I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up…”: 5 lessons it teaches students123Hot PicksBudget 2026Gold Silver PricesParliament Budget SessionRelationship consentIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays February 2026Bank Holidays februaryTop TrendingNBA Trade NewsMLB Trade RumorsCardi BKayla NicoleLindsey Vonn ACL InjuryCooper DeJeanTom BradyDenver Nuggets vs Detroit PistonsWho is Mickey Lolich WifeMickey Lolich Passes Away
NEW DELHI: Election Commission on Wednesday sought Supreme Court’s urgent intervention to curb and prevent, what it called, a systematic pattern of violence and threats against its officials conducting the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal and alleged that while the CM’s speeches encouraged such situations, police are reluctant to register FIRs against the perpetrators.Comparing smooth conduct of SIR in other states to that in Bengal where those involved in the roll revision have been “targeted”, EC, in its affidavit, said, “It unequivocally illustrates that the challenges encountered in West Bengal are not intrinsic to the SIR process itself, but are a direct result of the inadequacies of the state machinery and the prevailing climate of political interference therein.”“This singular and alarming breakdown demands immediate intervention of SC to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process,” it said, adding “the CM has persistently delivered a series of public addresses that are inherently provocative, thereby engendering an atmosphere of intimidation among election officials”.EC claimed that on Jan 14 the CM, during a press conference, “engaged in fear mongering, disseminated misleading and erroneous information regarding the SIR process, overtly threatened and targeted poll officials, and sought to incite alarm among the electorate”.“The CM explicitly identified and targeted a micro-observer Hari Das, thereby publicly isolating an election official performing statutory duties and subjecting him to unwarranted pressure and intimidation… gravely compromising the independence, neutrality and safety of election officials,” the poll panel said on a day when CM Mamata Banerjee argued against the roll revision in SC.As a result, nine micro-observers in Murshidabad constituency collectively wrote to the West Bengal chief electoral officer (CEO), formally withdrawing from the SIR process due to violent assaults perpetrated by miscreants and inadequate security provisions, it said, adding on Jan 15, a mob of 700 attacked the place where SIR work was being carried out in Uttar Dinajpur district.Complaining that police authorities are reluctant to register FIRs on complaints lodged by booth level officers (BLOs), EC said, “In certain instances, FIRs were documented only subsequent to intervention by the district election officer, with arrests occurring belatedly thereafter.” It said other state police have promptly registered FIRs on complaints by EC officials.Given the ground situation, the Centre has provided ‘Y+ security’ cover to the WB CEO, the only officer among his peers in all states to get such security cover, EC said.
