A jailer’s suicide in Dharwad took a dramatic turn after the family of the deceased prison official accused senior police officer DGP Alok Kumar of harassing him and causing severe mental distress. Now they have filed a complaint and asked for a probe into the cause of death.
Jailer found dead in prison quarters
Siddaramappa Waddar, a jailer, was found dead in the prison residential quarters in Dharwad on Friday. The incident was shocking for the prison department, and they opened legal proceedings.
Police officials said that a case of unnatural death has been reported, and investigations are ongoing into the circumstances of the suicide. Evidence and statements from family members and colleagues are being collected, they said.
Family Alleges Harassment by Senior Officer
The case received further attention when Siddaramappa’s family publicly claimed that he had been subjected to repeated harassment by DGP Alok Kumar. Family members claim that the deceased had been under immense mental pressure in the months leading up to his death.
Siddaramappa was allegedly reprimanded and humiliated in several video conferences by senior officials, according to the accusations. His family says he was depressed as a result of such conferences and struggled with the pressure on him.
Lakshmi, the deceased’s wife, has said that her husband was mentally affected by the treatment he received so many times and suffered great pain for the reasons for that and finally took the extreme step because of the stress. She has called for an investigation of the claims and for those responsible to be held accountable if evidence is there.
Family Arrives at Police Station to File Complaint
Some members of Siddaramappa’s family arrived at Dharwad Suburban Police Station yesterday to lodge a formal complaint against DGP Alok Kumar.
The family has asked authorities to investigate whether workplace harassment played a role in Siddaramappa’s death and demand an inquiry into all aspects of Siddaramappa’s death. They also appeal for a fair and open investigation into all of the reasons behind the incident.
Lakshmi was emotional when she spoke to reporters and said her husband deserves justice. She stated that the family will continue to pursue legal action until the investigation is complete.
Police Response
According to the media, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Shruti told the media that Siddaramappa Waddar had died by suicide in the prison residential quarters.
The officer added that police had registered a case and that any complaint submitted by the family would be officially received and examined as part of the investigation. All allegations raised by the family will be reviewed according to legal procedures, he said.
The police said that the inquiry is still in its early stages and any conclusions about responsibility should only be made after a thorough investigation.
Investigation Continues
The allegations against a senior police officer have added a sensitive dimension to the case. In a search for any evidence supporting the harassment claims, both officials and family members will be interviewed.
For now, we are only concerned with establishing the truth of Siddaramappa's death and ensuring that the investigation is fair.
