2 booth level officers booked in Bihar for ‘corruption’, ‘spreading misinformation’

According to the complaint filed by Ruby Kumari, Mahila Prasar Padadhikari (Women Extension Officer) of Manpur, the BLO, Gauri Shankar, an assistant teacher at Urdu Middle School, Nauranga, was seen in a video engaging in a cash transaction with a voter.

The video, which surfaced on Sunday, reportedly showed Shankar asking for and receiving money under the pretext of “tea and refreshments” for processing the voter form. The complainant stated that “such conduct is in clear violation of service norms”.

In a similar incident, the Begusarai district administration has taken action against a BLO posted at Part Number 6 of Madarsa Fokania Nurpur (East) in the 144 Matihani Assembly constituency.

According to the district administration, information was received regarding a viral video in which a BLO, a panchayat teacher, was purportedly seen sharing incorrect and misleading information regarding the ongoing SIR exercise on a private Hindi news channel.

The Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO)-cum-BDO, Barauni, and the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO)-cum- Sub-Divisional Land Reforms Deputy Collector were directed to conduct an inquiry into the matter.

“Based on preliminary inquiry, an FIR has been registered against the BLO for sharing “incorrect and misleading information” related to the electoral process on a media channel, failing to properly discharge his duties as a BLO, and displaying negligence in the conduct of the SIR. The teacher has been suspended with immediate effect and a new BLO has been appointed. Additionally, all forms collected by the said BLO are being re-examined by the Electoral Registration Officer, Matihani,” the Begusarai administration said.