Daijiworld Media Network - Mysuru

Mysuru, Nov 23: A panchayat officer allegedly attempted suicide inside her office fearing that she would be transferred from her current posting located in chief minister Siddaramaiah’s Varuna assembly constituency.

According to police, the officer has been identified as Divya, an A-grade official at the Varuna panchayat office. She reportedly consumed around 15 painkillers and fever tablets at her desk and collapsed soon after. Colleagues rushed her to hospital, where she is currently undergoing treatment.

Preliminary inquiries revealed that Divya had been working at the Varuna panchayat office for the past two years. Over the last few days, she was said to be under severe mental stress.

Local sources claimed that an officer of her rank from another panchayat had applied for a transfer to the Varuna panchayat. On learning this, Divya grew anxious and feared she would be moved out.

Panchayat members alleged that the officer seeking the transfer had close ties with higher-ups, and efforts were being made to shift Divya from Varuna to make space for him.

Further, on November 20, a senior administrative official made a surprise inspection at the Varuna panchayat office to verify complaints that Divya was not discharging her duties properly and that several pending works had piled up.

However, panchayat members supported her and defended her performance. The incident reportedly left her even more distressed, after which she consumed the tablets in the office.