Kasaragod: A BJP worker has been arrested for allegedly waylaying a female booth-level officer (BLO) in Uppala, seizing her phone, and copying and circulating Special Intensive Revision (SIR) data on WhatsApp groups.

Manjeshwar police arrested E S Amith (34) of Manimunda near Uppala on Friday on the directions of District Collector Inbasekar K. According to the FIR, the incident took place around 2.30 pm near the Uppala bus stand on Friday.

The BJP, however, has come to Amith’s defence, alleging political vendetta. BJP North Zone president K Shreekanth claimed that the complainant’s husband is an LDF-backed independent candidate in Mangalpady panchayat.

The complainant, A Subhashini (41) -- an anganwadi worker doubling up as a BLO -- said she merely shared her experience in the BLOs’ official WhatsApp group, after which the Collector contacted her and directed her to file a police complaint.

 “The Collector called me several times. Then the tahsildar also called. They wanted to set an example. I shared my experience because I was upset about what had happened. I personally do not even know the person who waylaid me. He is not from my booth,” she said.

Subhashini, attached to Muttam Anganwadi, has been on Special Intensive Revision (SIR) duty, updating the electoral roll for the next year's Assembly election at Peringadi, Aila Beach, and Aila Temple in Uppala since November 4. On Friday afternoon, a man on a motorcycle stopped her near the Uppala bus stand, snatched her phone, and forced her to open the BLO app. “He took photos of the screen showing the SIR status report and shared them in WhatsApp groups. I realised he shared in WhatsApp groups when the screenshot of his post reached my phone,” she said.

Based on her complaint, Manjeshwar police booked Amith under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for wrongful restraint, obstruction of a public servant, and criminal intimidation. "Police found him because his name and phone number were visible on the screenshot," said Subhashini.

BJP’s Shreekanth alleged that Subhashini was a “known LDF worker” and that the complaint was filed to target BJP workers ahead of the local body elections. He claimed the party had earlier accused her of partisan conduct as a BLO but did not provide details of the complaint.

Subhashini said she had served as a BLO for nine years and had never discriminated against anyone. "I don't have any party, religion or even salary. As a BLO, I help everybody," she said and added that she had been slogging day and night without sleep, skipping lunch for several days to finish the SIR work. "For all that, we get only Rs 7,000 a year. And now I’m accused of not doing my job,” she said.

Subhashini said she had completed 97% of the work and was wrapping up the rest when she was restrained and intimidated.

If convicted, Amith faces up to two years in prison. The incident comes soon after a CPM panchayat member assaulted a BLO in Kasaragod's Delampady, and the suicide of a BLO in Kannur’s Ettukudukka in Kankol-Alappadamba grama panchayat, allegedly over SIR work pressure.