The Bihar Human Rights Commission (BHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of suicide by a police Sub-Inspector (SI) due to non-payment of salary, pending since the last 16 months, as he had not bribed the disbursing officials, and has sought a report from the government.
The SI, Virendra Kumar, (50) was posted at Khazanchi Hat police station in Purnia town, around 320 kms northeast from the state capital and he shot himself from his service revolver on Saturday night.
According to his wife Chanda Devi, Kumar's due salary was held up for he did not pay Rs 40,000 bribe being asked by officials for releasing the money. The financial crisis had become so acute that he was not able to deposit fee for his son studying at IIT Roorkee, and was forced to borrow money from friends.
BHRC Member Neelmani said, "We have instituted a case yesterday and directed DIG Purnia Range Ram Narayan Singh to immediately enquire into the matter, take action against the persons responsible for insensitivity or blatant apathy and driving the SI to such a situation that he took his own life."
Neelmani said that the DIG has been asked to submit his report to the Commission by December 19, 2014 when the case is listed next.
"We won't be able to comment more on the case right now, but whatever the reason could be for withholding Kumar's salary, it should have been regularised and paid after completing the due process. This was not done. It is highly deplorable and unpardonable because he was driven to suicide," Neelmani added.
The Purnia DIG was earlier an SP working with BHRC. He is well versed in human rights matters and his report will help the Commission nail the culprits behind the SI's death.
Meanwhile, Purnia SP Ajit Kumar Satyarthi said order for the disbursement of pending salary of the deceased SI was issued on June 25 this year, yet it was not paid.
"We have fixed responsibility for this unfortunate incident. The accounts section in-charge Sakaldeep Singh has been suspended and departmental proceedings have been initiated against him," Satyarthi said.
