The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Sikkim, has rejected claims that two alleged suicide deaths in the state were linked to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The clarification followed allegations by Citizen Action Party (CAP) Sikkim president Ganesh Rai. The CEO office sought reports from police authorities in Namchi and Pakyong districts after the claims surfaced.
Preliminary inquiries found no evidence connecting either death with SIR-related duties or pressure. Authorities said the investigation into the Pakyong case remains ongoing, with the post-mortem report still awaited.
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Key Facts
- Location: Sikkim
- Issue: Alleged link between two deaths and SIR electoral roll revision
- Political leader: CAP Sikkim president Ganesh Rai
- Districts involved: Namchi and Pakyong
- Inquiry: Conducted by police and district officials
- Finding: No evidence linking the deaths to SIR duties
- Pakyong case: Post-mortem report awaited
CEO Office Rejects SIR-Related Claims
The Sikkim CEO office rejected claims that an electoral roll revision exercise contributed to two alleged suicide deaths.
Ganesh Rai had claimed in a social media broadcast that a Booth Level Officer (BLO) in Pakyong district and an elector in Namchi district died by suicide because of pressure linked to the SIR process.
Following the allegations, the CEO office requested factual reports from the Superintendents of Police in both districts.
Namchi Police Find No Related Complaint
The Senior Superintendent of Police in Namchi reported that police stations across the district had received no complaint or report about a female citizen allegedly dying by suicide because of an SIR hearing.
The police report therefore found no official record supporting the claim that the Namchi death had a connection with the electoral revision process.
Pakyong Inquiry Finds No Evidence of Pressure
Authorities also investigated the death of the BLO in Pakyong district.
The Superintendent of Police reported that preliminary findings showed no complaint from the deceased BLO or his family alleging excessive workload, undue pressure or harassment linked to SIR duties.
Officials also reviewed available digital and phone records. According to the CEO office, the review found no material connecting the death to work-related pressure from the electoral revision exercise.
However, the post-mortem report remains pending and could provide additional information about the circumstances surrounding the death.
Joint Team Conducts Investigation
A joint team investigated the Pakyong case. The team included the Superintendent of Police, Pakyong; Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Pakyong; and Block Development Officer, Pakyong.
Officials also spoke with available witnesses and relatives of the deceased during the inquiry.
Based on the preliminary findings, authorities said they found no association between the death and SIR-related responsibilities.
CEO Urges Verification of Claims
The CEO office issued the clarification amid growing public and political attention around the electoral roll revision exercise.
Authorities stressed the importance of verifying claims through official investigations before circulating allegations about individual deaths.
The office’s statement aims to clarify that the preliminary inquiries conducted in Namchi and Pakyong have not established a connection between the reported deaths and SIR-related pressure.
Questions and Answers
What did the Sikkim CEO office clarify?
It said preliminary inquiries found no evidence linking the two deaths to the SIR electoral roll revision exercise.
Who raised the allegations?
CAP Sikkim president Ganesh Rai made the claims in a social media broadcast.
Which districts were involved?
The cases involved Namchi and Pakyong districts.
What did the Pakyong inquiry find?
Officials found no complaint or evidence of excessive workload, undue pressure or harassment related to SIR duties.
Is the Pakyong investigation complete?
The post-mortem report is still awaited, so authorities may receive further information.
Why did the CEO office seek police reports?
The office sought factual verification after the allegations became public.
Location Context
Sikkim is a strategically important state in Northeast India, and accurate electoral records play an important role in its democratic process. The ongoing SIR exercise has attracted public attention, making official verification of related claims particularly important.