SIR: Filled Form-7 targeting Muslim voters surface in Belagavi; BLOs allege they were pressured to sign
In Belagavi, India, election officials reported that unidentified individuals attempted to force them to sign bulk applications for the deletion of Muslim voters from the electoral rolls. The Booth Level Officers refused to sign the pre-filled forms, which were presented under the guise of official authority.
Why it matters
This incident highlights serious concerns regarding electoral integrity and potential targeted disenfranchisement of minority groups in local Indian politics.
“For at least the last 15 years, I have been the Booth Level Agent (BLA) here at polling station 196 in Belagavi North Assembly constituency. But last week, when I saw at least 380 Form-7 applications at the school, I was shocked to find my name and my brother’s, along with those of our relatives and neighbours, sought to be deleted,” said Meersab Sanadi, BLA at Veerabhadra Urdu Model School in Belagavi’s 7th Cross, where he is also the chairman.
The incident, in which “already printed” bulk Form-7 applications seeking deletion of Muslim names were received by Booth Level Officers (BLOs), was reported at at least six polling stations in Belagavi North Assembly constituency — four in Veerabhadra Nagar (polling parts 194, 195, 196 and 199) and two at the Government Kannada Higher Primary School in Shettigali (polling parts 209 and 210).
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