Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (EP)

Udupi, Feb 3: The waterman of Saligrama town panchayat attempted suicide by jumping from the new bridge on the national highway at Mabukala, allegedly as he was hurt by allegations of harassing a Dalit woman at her house.

Municipal council chief officer Sripad Bhat had issued show cause notice to the waterman, identified as Jayaraj, after members of Saligrama town panchayat urged the officer to take action against him. Three days later, Jayaraj, who was accused of harassing a Dalit woman during a recent meeting of the town panchayat, wrote a death note on Friday morning and tried to end his life.

Manjula, a Dalit woman at Gundmi ward of Saligrama town had complained to the town panchayat that she was not getting water in the pipeline. To verify the complaint, Jayaraj had gone to Manjula's house and inspected the water tank and the pipeline in her house. The incident was discussed by ward member Shiva Poojary in the monthly meeting of the town panchayat. Poojary reportedly accused Jayaraj of harassing the Dalit woman during his visit. TMC member Raghavendra Ganiga, former president Sadhu P and Ratna Ganiga had supported him and demand the resignation of the president of the panchayat. Opposition leader Srinivas Ameen said that it was not correct to discuss personal matters instead of development issues in the meeting, and said that he was boycotting the meeting. As the arguments continued, the chief officer issued a show cause notice to Jayaraj and assured that he would take suitable action after investigation.

Meanwhile, Jayaraj who saw the news of show cause notice and alleged atrocity against Dalit in the newspapers the next day, grew worried. Opposition leader Srinivas Ameen and others spoke to Jayaraj and pacified him. However, on Friday morning in his rented house, Jayaraj wrote a death note in which he said the town panchayat would be responsible for his death. He then called up the junior health officer in the panchayat, rode by bicycle to Mabukala bridge and jumped into the water, leaving his bicycle and sandals behind.

Opposition leader Srinivas Ameen, appointed member Achyuth Poojary and member Karunaker informed the Kota police station and went to the bridge looking for Jayaraj. As it was low tide, Jayaraj was easily found. He was brought to safety and admitted to a private hospital in Brahmavar for a broken leg. Panchayat officials took Jayaraj to the hospital in the ambulance and apologized to him. The opposition leader, Srinivas Ameen condemned the action of chief officer and took him to task.

Udupi SP K T Balakrishna has asked for details from Kota police sub-inspector Rajagopal about the matter. As no complaint of harassment was lodged against Jayaraj, Rajgopal visited the Dalit woman, Manjula, who said that the waterman, though he visited her house, did not behave indecently with her. She also expressed suspicions that the allegations may have been made to score political mileage. It is said that the present panchayat president does not listen to her predecessor, and that the allegations were an attempt to usurp her.