Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jul 10: A civic worker of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) ended his life by consuming poison near the pipeline within Vyalikaval police station limits on Monday July 9. It is said that he was depressed at not having got salary for about six months.

The victim, Subramani (35), was working for BBMP since the last 12 years on contract basis. The officials reportedly harassed him by keeping his salary pending since the last six months. When he went to speak to the concerned, he did not get proper response.Therefore he got dejected and killed himself, sources said.

Subramani's body was brought to the K C General Hospital here for postmortem. Local civic workers and family members of Subramani, who came to know of his death, staged protest against BBMP in front of the hospital. City mayor, Sampath Raj, who rushed to the spot, pacified the deceased's family and disbursed cheque of five lac rupees on the spot. Speaking to media persons, he said an investigation would be conducted, and that he has already instructed officials to take action against the guilty. He also promised to provide employment to the wife of the deceased.

Subramani used to work in the mosquito control department of BBMP before being absorbed as employee on contract basis. In the capacity of civic worker, he has worked less than a year. BBMP had disbursed arrears of pay to other civic workers but not to Subramani, as the zonal office had kept it pending even though the central office had released it, noted BBMP commissioner, Manjunath Prasad.

Relating to the incident, BBMP east zone health officer, Umashankar, and assistant executive engineer, Raju, were suspended by BBMP commissioner. Leader of the opposition in BBMP, Padmanabha Reddy, accused Congress and JD(S) combine which is ruling BBMP of neglecting interests of employees.