A Booth-Level Officer (BLO) was allegedly assaulted while carrying out voter verification work under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Sirsa district on Friday.

Harpal Singh, a JBT teacher serving as a BLO, alleged that he was beaten up and his clothes were torn while visiting a house in Nathusari Chopta to collect SIR forms. He was admitted to the community health centre in Nathusari Chopta for treatment.

According to Harpal Singh, he and his assistant Deepak Kumar visited a house on Bhattu Road around 10.30 am to collect the voter verification forms. A woman handed over blank forms after which he asked for her husband’s mobile number. He informed her that the forms needed to be filled to avoid deletion of the voter record.

Harpal Singh alleged that as they were leaving the area, her husband Dharmveer Singh Mothia approached them and assaulted him without any provocation. He claimed Mothia tore his clothes and local residents intervened to stop the assault.

The BLO later lodged a complaint at Chopta police station. SHO Pradeep Kumar said a complaint had been received and the matter was under investigation. Appropriate action would be taken after the probe, he added.

Meanwhile, another teacher working as a BLO in Sirsa said officials involved in the SIR exercise are under intense pressure to complete voter verification before the deadline. He claimed many BLOs start work as early as 7 am, going door to door to verify voters. While many residents cooperate, some ask officials to return later, making it difficult to meet the targets within the stipulated time.