Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jun 12: The body of Bharat Kumar (40), working as driver in the local horticulture department, who reportedly drove the vehicle that carried pesticides to Kadri Park for dumping them there, was found on the railway tracks at Tokkottu Kapikad on Friday June 11 afternoon.

Bharat, a native of Kasargod, living at the government residential quarters in Urwa Stores here, had attended the office on Friday as usual. His colleagues said that within some time thereafter, he left the office in his motor bike, telling them that he would be visiting Kasargod. His body was recovered at around 2 pm. While the railway police have registered the case as unnatural death, employees in horticulture department feel that it was a case of suicide. It is said that Bharat was under tremendous pressure from the local top brass in the department, to own responsibility for dumping the pesticides. In a copy of a letter addressed by Bharat to the district deputy commissioner and deputy director of horticulture, which was found in the shirt pocket of the deceased, Bharat said that he had transported pesticides as per the instructions of his higher authorities, and that the guilty should be punished after holding detailed investigations. The policemen said that Bharat in his letter disclosed that he was not feeling like attending the office because of the above incident, although he had not done anything wrong.

The fact that pesticides meant for distribution to farmers was dumped by the department in a well, had come out in the open on Thursday June 10. It is said that Bharat had told the officials that it would not be proper to dump the pesticides in the well at Kadri Park, but the officials remained adamant and asked him to go ahead with the task. After the incident was reported in the media, Bharat reportedly told his close friends that he is in favour of a detailed investigation into the entire issue.

Bharat was the secretary of Dakshina Kannada District Government Vehicle Drivers Union. After the news of the driver’s death arrived, MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, who was on a visit to the office of the horticulture department to inspect the stocks, suspended further inspection. He asked the officials to furnish full details within three days.