Tumakuru, 4 July 

Two Booth Level Officers (BLOs) were injured in separate road accident near Tumakuru on Saturday when travelling to discharge their duties amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Village officials alleged that the accidents occurred due to pressure from the Deput Commissioner and other higher authorities. 

In the first accident, Village Administrative Officer (VAO) Bhuvana suffered severe head injuries after a lorry vehicle hit her near Goolur village in Tumakuru taluk while she was travelling for duty at 8.00am, DC Shubha Kalyan said. She is currently unconscious and remains in critical condition in Siddaganga Hospital, even though she was wearing a helmet at the time of the incident. 

In the second incident, Village Administrative Employee (VAE) Sahana fell from her two-wheeler near Hunaseghatta Circle in Tiptur taluk at around 7.30 am. She was reportedly travelling to show the field location through a video call as instructed by Tahsildar Lokesh when the accident occurred.

VAOs protested outside the Tumakuru Deputy Commissioner's Office.

"Are government employees being made sacrificial victims to protect your personal prestige? District Commissioners have official cars and bungalows, but what facilities are provided to our employees?" CS Shadakshari, President of the State Government Employees' Association asked during the protest.