A gram panchayat secretary from Varuna, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s constituency in Karnataka, attempted to die by suicide after she got reports of a possible transfer. The woman, a grade-1 panchyat officer, collapsed after consuming around 15 tablets, including sleeping pills, paracetamol and pain relievers, in her office.
Divya had served as the Varuna Panchayat secretary for the past two years, according to officials and panchayat members. She has been admitted to a private hospital and is being treated. A case has been registered at the Varuna police station.
According to officials and panchayat members, the issue began when a grade-1 secretary from another gram panchayat sought a transfer to Divya’s position. Members claim that the man had lobbied with senior officers to replace her.
The executive officer also paid a surprise visit to the Varuna Panchayat office on November 20 to allegedly reopen a six-month-old complaint accusing Divya of not doing her duties properly, NDTV reported.
In the inquiry that was conducted, the panchayat members unanimously defended the secretary and vouched for her. They said that she has been working efficiently and questioned the motive behind reviving a six-month-old complaint.
Divya, who was allegedly distressed by the idea of a possible transfer on the same day and swallowed around 15 pills in her office. In a video, Divya is seen lying unconscious i her office chair while two colleagues attempt to wake her. Staff took her to the Kaveri Hospital in Mysuru.
Divya has not filed a complaint and Varuna police are investigating allegations of mental harrasment against the woman.
