THANJAVUR: An overseer with the Nannilam Block Development Office, who set himself ablaze over workload, succumbed at the Tiruvarur Government Hospital on Monday morning. Following his death, the executive engineer of the District Rural Development Agency, has been booked on charges of abetting suicide.
Police said, R Muthukrishnan (36), a native of Ammayappan in Tiruvarur district, was a junior draughtsman at the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) office in Tiruvarur. Eight months ago, he was transferred to Nannilam block development office as an overseer.
Meanwhile, on May 3, Muthukrishnan who came to the bazaar of Ammayappan, doused himself with kerosene and triggered fire. Those who witnessed this, doused the fire and admitted him to Tiruvarur Government Hospital, where he died on Monday morning.
Earlier, Kavitha, Judicial Magistrate, Tiruvarur, recorded the statement of Muthukrishnan. Muthumeenakshi, the Revenue Divisional Officer and Anbazhagan, DSP, Tiruvarur, also conducted inquiries with Muthukrishnan.
Initially, the Koradacherry police registered a case of attempt to suicide. Based on Muthukrishnan’s statement to the Magistrate, and the inquiries by the revenue and police officials, the Koradacherry police on Monday altered it to a case of abetting suicide and booked the executive engineer of DRDA Senthilkumar.
Preliminary inquiries revealed that Muthukrishnan was given heavy workload by Senthilkumar. Muthukrishnan also felt harassed by Senthilkumar. Eventually, Muthukrishnan was transferred to Nannilam Block Development office. However, he felt that he was harassed there also by Senthilkumar and took the extreme step, police said.
Meanwhile, members of the Tamil Nadu Overseers Association and Rural Development Officials Association staged a demonstration in front of the collectorate demanding immediate arrest of Senthilkumar for harassing Muthukrishnan.
M Mathivanan, Collector and T Jayachandran, Superintendent of Police held talks with the agitators. After they assured that proper action will be taken on the issue, the protest was withdrawn.
Later, the Collector and SP paid tributes to Muthukrishnan by laying wreaths on his mortal remains.