GP pump-operator commits suicide after being insulted by husband (proxy) of woman sarpanch
K M Dayashankar
RAJANNA-SIRCILLA: It has become common in today’s politics where the proxies (husbands) of women elected representatives belonging to various local bodies attend the official programmes, meetings, takes decisions and participates in officials tours etc.
Freshly, a proxy of a village sarpanch had reportedly forced a grama panchayat employee to commit following his humiliation in front of entire villagers in the interior Malkapet village of Konaraopeta mandal on Thursday.
Reports reaching here said that Akula Ramadasu (65) working as pump-operator in the grama panchayat for the last over three decades reportedly committed suicide by hanging to a tree in his house in the village. It is alleged that the sarpanch Are Latha’s husband Mahender, who is proxy, had abused and insulted the pump-operator in front of all villagers.
On July 17, the central team along with the additional collector visited the village to inspect various works. At this juncture, the villagers obstructed the additional collector car and complained about poor supply of water through taps and the sarpanch was not working properly. Immediately, the Additional Collector took class to sarpanch’s husband Mahender. Irked over this, Mahender abused Ramadasu for creating nuisance in the village and said he would be removed from service.
Following the villagers request, he was releasing water through taps. Again the sarpanch husband insulted the pump operator. Humiliated over the words, the pump operator committed suicide. Following the news, the entire village came on to the roads and staged dharna demanding action against Mahender and sarpanch Latha for causing death of pump operator.
The villagers said that the sarpanch’s husband has no right to abuse a grama panchayat employee and demanded stern action against the sarpanch’s husband and removal of sarpanch from her post for encouraging proxy.
When the situation turned tense, the police officials from Konaraopeta, Chandurthi, Vemulawada police stations rushed to the village and tried to pacify the villagers. But the villagers demanded that the government should provide a compensation of Rs 25 lakhs and employment to one of the family member of the pump operator. The revenue, panchayat raj officials and elected representatives also held talks with villagers, but in vain. The villagers are continuing the agitation.
On the other hand, the trade union leaders and grama panchayat employees association leaders have staged a dharna in front of the Collectorate in Sircilla textile town demanding action against the sarpanch and her husband. Besides, they also demanded a compensation and employment to one of the family member.
