The Sanjha Adhyapak Morcha, Phagwara, has demanded a compensation of Rs 1 crore and a government job for a family member of deceased booth level officer (BLO) Avtar Singh of Bhakhriyana village, who reportedly died while performing election duty.
The demand was raised during a meeting of the teachers’ front held under the leadership of Jasbir Saini, Satwant Toora, Jasbir Bhangu, Daljit Saini, Ganesh Bhagat, Gurmukh Singh, Satnam Singh Randhawa and Parminder Pal. Expressing deep grief over the untimely demise, the leaders stated that Avtar Singh, a drawing master at Government Middle School, Bhakhriyana, was deputed as a BLO by the local SDM office, Phagwara, under the directions of the Election Commission of Punjab.
They alleged that during the course of his duty at the school, a dispute broke out involving some individuals, leading to a tense situation. Amid the confrontation, Avtar Singh reportedly suffered a heart attack and died on the spot.
Condoling the loss, the leaders urged the Election Commission and the Punjab Government to immediately provide financial assistance of Rs 1 crore to the bereaved family and ensure a government job for an eligible family member to secure their future. They also demanded that those responsible for creating the disturbance and obstructing a government official on duty be identified and given strict punishment.
Raising broader concerns, the teachers’ body pointed out that election-related work has become a year-round responsibility. They suggested that the Election Commission of India and the Punjab Election Commission should recruit dedicated staff for election duties to ensure smooth and uninterrupted functioning of the process. Such a move, they said, would also generate employment opportunities for unemployed youth across the state and the country.
The leaders further demanded that until separate recruitment is undertaken, adequate security should be provided to all BLOs in view of the prevailing circumstances, so that no official is subjected to pressure or life-threatening situations in the future.
Among those present at the meeting were Satinder Singh, Jatinder Singh, Surinder Ram, Gaurav Rathore, Teerath Singh, Ravinder Kumar and several other teachers.
