A controversy has emerged during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Karnataka, with allegations that schoolchildren were involved in the enumeration process at a government school in Belagavi district. The incident occurred at the Government Kannada Higher Primary School in Maradimutt village, where Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are accused of engaging schoolchildren in the SIR exercise. Videos circulating on social media purportedly show schoolchildren participating in the activity, raising concerns about their involvement in an official election-related task.
The Belagavi Deputy Commissioner, Mohammad Roshan, has taken notice of the situation and ordered an investigation into the matter. Allegations suggest that BLOs called villagers to the school to distribute and collect Enumeration Forms as part of the electoral roll revision. The district administration is now looking into whether schoolchildren were indeed used in the enumeration process and if any Election Commission protocols were breached.
The controversy comes amidst a broader political dispute over the SIR of electoral rolls in Karnataka, with Opposition parties criticizing its implementation. Belagavi Deputy Commissioner Roshan has warned of strict action if any deviations from official guidelines are uncovered during the inquiry. The district administration is yet to release a detailed statement on the allegations, while the investigation continues to unfold.
