‘No salary for 27 months, mentally harassed by officials’; Elderly commits suicide in front of panchayat office

BENGALURU: A man ended his life in front of a panchayat office for non-payment of salary for the past 27 months and mental harassment by officials. The incident happened at the Honganuru grama panchayat office in Karnataka's Chamarajanagar district. Chikoosa Nayak had been working as a waterman since 2016.

He had alleged before his death that he had not received salary from the panchayat office for the last 27 months. Chikoosa had requested settlement of his pending salary. He even submitted his resignation due to ill health. However, Chikoosa had mentioned in his suicide note that the arrears were not paid.

'I had requested the Panchayat Development Officer (PDO) and the grama panchayat president to clear my salary, but they ignored my request. I approached higher officials but nothing happened. The officials constantly tortured me. If I asked for leave, they would tell me to find a replacement before taking time off. I was also forced to sit in the office from 8 am to 6 pm. I am committing suicide because of them. Strict action should be taken against them,' said Chikooosa in his suicide note.

The police have registered a case against the panchayat authorities over the incident. The PDO has been suspended for violating the law. The BJP has come out strongly against the Congress government in Karnataka. The other day, a librarian in Kalaburagi had committed suicide for not receiving his salary on time.