SDA’s death erupts protest demanding arrest of Municipal member over alleged harassment

Protesters alleged that municipal member had harassed Joshi and pressured him to manipulate accounts, which led to his death.

Bengaluru: Tension prevailed at the Vijayapura Town Municipal Council on Bengaluru’s northern outskirts on Thursday following the death of a Second Division Assistant (SDA), allegedly due to harassment by municipal members.

Pavan R Joshi (38) reportedly died of a brain stroke on Wednesday.

Enraged relatives placed his body in front of the municipal office in Devanahalli taluk and staged a protest demanding the arrest of municipal member, Hanifullah.

Protesters alleged that Hanifullah had harassed Joshi and pressured him to manipulate accounts, which led to his death.

The protest brought work at the municipal office to a halt, with agitators blocking entry and exit points and thrashing a photograph of Hanifullah with slippers.

R Ashoka, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Home Minister G Parameshwara to order a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the incident.

Following a complaint from Ananya Joshi, the deceased’s wife, Vijayapura police have booked Hanifullah, and municipal members JN Srinivas and Muniraju under BNS Section 108 (abetment to suicide). An investigation is underway.