Guntur: Staffer alleges graft on video, ends life

Guntur: A 12-minute selfie video made by a Dalit employee of the medical and health department, alleging harassment and demand for bribes before attempting suicide on November 17 went viral after his death on Thursday. N. Ravikumar died at the NRI Hospital here. The body was brought to the Government General Hospital here for autopsy, where his relatives and Dalit leaders staged a protest alleging that his death was the result of harassment of officials. Ravikumar used to work as a junior assistant in the primary health care centre at Ponnur of Guntur district. He consumed pesticide on November 17 at his house in Ankammanagar in Guntur.

In the video, he alleged that he had joined as an attender and was promoted as lower division clerk in 2015. He alleged that officials demanded '1 lakh to give him a posting at Guntur but he could pay Rs 70,000. He said that he had applied for the promotion list and transfers under the RTI Act, and officials started issuing him memos alleging that he was absent from duty. He alleged that DMHO office incharge A.O. Ratna Raju, health educator Bhanu Murthy, supervisor Mallikharjuna Rao and senior assistant Prasad harassed him. He said he was unable to bear their harassment, and took his life.

After he consumed pesticide, his family members shifted him to GGH on November 18. He was shifted then to the NRI General Hospital at Mangalagiri.
After learning of this, his relatives, Dalit leaders and activists rushed to the GGH and staged a dharna on the main road. Ravikumar’s wife Pushpalatha alleged that he had lodged a complaint against the officials sevens month ago with the Nagarampalem police station but there was no response. Dalit leaders alleged that the police was trying to save the officials who harassed Ravikumar and demanded their arrest based on the selfie video.

Police led by deputy superintendent of police K.G.V. Saritha rushed to the spot and assured protesters about stern action against the officials and registering of a case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocity) Act. Following this, the protest was called off. Nagarampalem sub-inspector Kiran Babu said that the police collected the selfie video and registered a case based on the complaint of Ravikumar’s wife Pushpalatha and started investigation.

DMHO Dr J. Yasmin stated that an inquiry committee had been appointed with additional DMHO and the report would be submitted to senior officials. She said that she was conducting an inquiry about the allegations. She said that all benefits would be provided to Ravikumar’s family according to the rules on the orders of higher authorities.

Minor tied to tree, beaten:

Villagers tied a minor boy to the trunk of a tree with ropes and beat him up on charges of theft before handing him over to the police at Srirampuram of Rajanagaram mandal in East Godavari on Thursday. According to Rajanagaram police, a minor was allegedly caught when he was trying to break open a small road side paan shop to steal cigarettes and match boxes along with another person.

The villagers beat up the boy. The police took him into custody for questioning and is on the lookout for the absconding suspect. Police has booked no case on the issue.