Rajasthan: Dalit government employee had to pay the price for exposing corruption with his life!

Case of Chipalata Gram Panchayat of Neemkathana district, anger among Dalit organizations.

Published on: 19 Feb 2024, 5:52 pm

Jaipur. A Dalit government employee had to pay the price with his life for exposing the embezzlement of more than Rs 5 lakh in the Gram Panchayat. The matter has come to light from Chipalata Gram Panchayat under Thoi police station of Neem police station district. Where the Dalit Village Development Officer, who had filed an FIR against the Sarpanch and the then Village Development Officer on charges of embezzlement, committed suicide. It is alleged that the Sarpanch and the then Village Development Officer were torturing Dalit Village Development Officer Lalit Kumar ever since the FIR was registered. Fed up, Lalit committed suicide by hanging himself in his house last Sunday morning.

Protest demanding arrest

Santosh Kumar, cousin of the deceased, told that Lalit was taken down from the noose and taken to Ajitgarh hospital. Where the doctors declared him dead. After the news of Lalit’s death, people associated with Dalit organizations along with his family members gathered outside the hospital. Where a demonstration was held demanding the arrest of the accused. On information, Additional Superintendent of Police Shalini Raj also reached the spot. Where after talking to the family members, the family members agreed to take the body on the assurance of arrest of the accused. Police handed over the body to the relatives after post-mortem.

FIR lodged against them

After the incident, on the complaint of the deceased’s cousin Santosh Kumar, son of Sundaram Bandarwal, resident of Jhadli Tehsil Shrimadhopur, the police station lodged a complaint against the then Village Development Officer Narendra Pratap Singh, Sarpanch Manoj Gurjar, former Sarpanch and present Sarpanch Manoj’s father Birbalram Gurjar, Gram Panchayat employee Jagdev. An FIR has been registered against Mangal, Panchayat contractor Pokhar and Block Development Officer Panchayat Samiti Ajitgarh for conspiring and abetting suicide and under the Scheduled Caste/Tribe Act.

This is not suicide but murder

Gigraj Jodli, associated with the Azad rebel organization, said that Lalit Kumar was a smart employee. Earlier, with the help of Gram Panchayat and employees, an FIR was lodged against the Sarpanch and the then Development Officer on charges of embezzlement of Rs 5 lakh. On this the accused started harassing them. Fed up with this, Lalit committed suicide, but it was not suicide but a planned murder. We will continue to struggle until the family members of the deceased get justice. We have ended the protest on the assurance of the officials. If proper action is not taken then we will protest. He said that in this way brilliant officers give up their lives because of corrupt people in bureaucracy and democracy. This is a big loss for humanity. Dalit society should raise its voice against corruption.

taught by working in brick kilns

Hiralal Regar, resident of Jhadli under Thoi police station of Neem ka police station district of Rajasthan, is the father of deceased Lalit Kumar. He educated his son by working at a brick kiln in Punjab. 25 year old Lalit Kumar became Village Development Officer about 8 months ago and was appointed as Village Development Officer in Chipalata Gram Panchayat of Ajitgarh Panchayat Samiti. Along with the job, Lalit Kumar was also preparing for RAS.

Wanted to make younger sister IAS

Lalit’s younger sister Anno while talking to The Mooknayak said – My brother was smart in studies. Was preparing for RAS. As soon as he got free time from his job, he remained busy in studies. He further said- My brother used to say, I could not become an IAS, but I will definitely make Anna an IAS officer after studying. My brother was honest. This is the reason why corrupt bigwigs tortured him and forced him to die.

First government employee in the family

Santosh Kumar, cousin of the deceased, told The Mooknayak that Lalit has parents and three sisters. Everyone is smart in studies. Lalit was the eldest. Santosh says that Lalit was the first in our family to become a government employee. The father is paralyzed, but does odd jobs. Lalit was in tension for some days. Whenever someone called, he would go away from his family and talk on the phone. After hanging up the phone, there would be sadness on his face.