A tragic incident has rocked Assam’s Public Works Department (PwD) as 30-year-old assistant engineer Jyotisha Das was found dead in her rented accommodation on Tuesday afternoon. Authorities confirmed that Das died by suicide, leaving behind a handwritten note detailing immense mental distress caused by workplace harassment.
According to the note, Das named two senior officials—Dinesh Medhi Sharma, a Superintendent Engineer recently promoted from Executive Engineer, and Aminul Islam, a Sub-Divisional Officer in Bongaigaon—for allegedly pressuring her to approve bills for incomplete work. “I am taking this step due to extreme stress from my work. There is no one to guide me in the office. I am tired and have nowhere to go. My parents are worried for me,” Das wrote in her suicide note.
The engineer’s family swiftly lodged a formal police complaint and filed a First Information Report (FIR). Based on the note, police arrested Sharma and Islam for alleged abetment of suicide. Officials confirmed that both individuals are currently being questioned and investigations are underway.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has called for a thorough probe into the matter. “We are investigating all aspects. The building concerned, on which the alleged bills were made, will be probed. We will reassess the work costing,” said police authorities.
The case has sparked conversations on workplace ethics and mental health support within government departments. Sources close to the investigation say this incident could potentially unveil wider corruption within the PwD sector.
Authorities have sealed the premises where Das resided, and forensic teams are examining the documents and devices recovered from the scene. The investigation continues, and officials have assured transparency in uncovering the truth behind Das’s tragic death.
