Daijiworld Media Network - Sullia (SP)

Sullia, Apr 7: The body of Dhananjay (40) from Keremoole village, who was working as panchayat development officer (PDO) in Madappady gram panchayat, was found hanging from a tree inside the forest area near Balpa in the taluk on Wednesday April 6. There is widespread suspicion that he ended his life because of his fear that his love life outside the marriage might spill into the open and harm his reputation of being a noble man.

Dhananjay also had additional responsibility of working in Markanja gram panchayat too as PDO. He was working in his office till Tuesday evening. After leaving his office on the pretext of visiting the washroom, he was not seen again. On Wednesday morning, his body was found hanging from a tree near Guthigar-Balpa connecting road cross. A pair of new footwear and suicide note were recovered from the spot.

It is learnt that Dhananjay had fallen in love with Asha from Puttur Tenkila, whom he married two years back. Thereafter, he is said to have come closer to a married woman working in Madappady gram panchayat office. This lady is from Sntikoppa in Kodagu district, and her husband is from Kajemoole village here. She has two children, and it is said that her husband knew about her affair with Dhananjay.

After this woman started to tell people that she would marry Dhananjay shortly, both sides met at the house of this woman on Tuesday to thrash out the issue. Dhananjay was present during the discussions, it is said. As the discussions failed to reach an understanding, Dhanjay's wife, Asha, filed a complaint against the said woman in the police station here. Dhananjay, it is said, would have turned edgy over the prospect of losing the respect he had earned from the villagers because of his hard work and polished manners.

It is learnt that the families of Dhananjay and the married woman were not in good terms, and frequent complaints were emanating from both the sides, and the incident had also been referred to the police station in the past. Elders from the area and the locals had tried to end the animosity but failed in their task.

Dhananjay was known for honesty, sincerity and duty consciousness. On Tuesday evening, he had visited Mavinakatte and Balpa gram panchayat offices to hold discussions with the PDO and staff there about the office work, it is gathered.

Dhananjay has left behind parents, wife, two brothers, and a sister. A case was registered in Subrahmanya police station about his unnatural death. The body was released to the relatives after conducting postmortem at the government hospital at Subrahmanya.

In the death note, as per information gathered, he said that the married woman was not responsible for his death. He sought forgiveness from his parents for failing to do anything for them. It is said that he also mentioned about death threats he received from three persons.