Chamarajanagar, Karnataka: A man employed as a waterman at the Honganuru Gram Panchayat in Chamarajanagar district has died by suicide in front of the panchayat office, citing non-payment of salary for over two years and alleged mental harassment by local officials.
The deceased, identified as Chikoosa Nayaka, had been working at the panchayat since 2016. In his suicide note, he stated that despite repeatedly requesting payment of his 27-month pending salary and even submitting his resignation due to ill health, officials failed to act.
Allegations of harassment
Nayaka alleged that the Panchayat Development Officer (PDO) Rame Gowda and Mohan Kumar, husband of the Gram Panchayat president, subjected him to continuous mental harassment. He wrote that if he requested leave, he was told to find a replacement first, and was forced to work from 8 am to 6 pm daily.
“I am ending my life due to the harassment of the PDO and Mohan Kumar,” he wrote in his note, urging authorities to take legal action against them.
Official response
Following the incident, the Zilla Panchayat CEO suspended Rame Gowda for negligence and violation of service rules. The police registered a case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against the PDO, the Gram Panchayat president, and her husband.
Political reaction
The Karnataka BJP condemned the state government over the incident. Karnataka BJP president Vijayendra Yediyurappa described the situation as “utterly disgraceful” and accused the government of “inhuman governance” for failing to pay salaries on time.
Yediyurappa urged the government to implement a mechanism to ensure timely salary payments for all government and semi-government employees, particularly in local bodies and corporations. He also appealed to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar to act swiftly to prevent similar tragedies.