Sudhir Kumar, a 35-year-old revenue clerk (lekhpal), allegedly died by suicide at his home in Bindki, in Uttar Pradesh’s Fatehpur district, on Tuesday, a day before he was to get married. With his relatives alleging he was threatened with dismissal from service for not completing work as a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) supervisor, police have filed an FIR against senior officials on abetment charges.
Sudhir, his family said, belonged to the Dalit community and had secured the job in 2024 after years of struggle – from selling eggs by the roadside to working as an MNREGA worker.
On Wednesday, the Lekhpal Association staged a protest and did not allow police and the administration to take the body for an autopsy till a case was registered. It also issued a call for a boycott of SIR work from Thursday unless action is taken against those responsible for the death.
Hemant Kumar Mishra, SHO of the Bindki police station, confirmed that an FIR has been lodged against Shivram, the kanungo (revenue officer), and other unnamed officials on charges of abetment to suicide. The body was eventually sent for a post-mortem examination on Wednesday afternoon, he said.
District Magistrate Ravinder Singh did not respond to calls and messages seeking a comment.
District Secretary of the Lekhpal Association, Ravendra, told The Indian Express that Sudhir, a resident of Khajuha village, was appointed to the post in 2024 after clearing the state-level examination held by the subordinate service commission. He was still on probation.
According to Ravendra, the date for Sudhir’s wedding (November 26) had been fixed months before he was appointed as a supervisor for the SIR task. He said Sudhir had met the tehsildar (senior revenue officer) of Bindki with a leave application, citing his wedding. Lekhpal association district president Dinesh Singh claimed Sudhir was not informed whether his leave had been sanctioned.
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According to Ravendra, on Sunday, a meeting was convened by the Electoral Registration Officer, who is a sub-divisional magistrate-rank officer, and all staff engaged in the SIR exercise were told to attend.
Sudhir, busy with the wedding preparations, was unable to do so. Angered by this, Ravendra alleged, the ERO conveyed during the meeting that he was recommending Sudhir’s suspension.
In her complaint to the police, Sudhir’s sister Amrita said he had been upset since Sunday after hearing the news.
Around 6 am on Tuesday, she alleged that Shivram reached their home and called Sudhir. He allegedly told her brother to complete the pending SIR work within the given time, or he would be dismissed from service as instructed by senior officers.
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She said Sudhir told him he was caught up with the wedding and would complete the work soon after the rituals were over. However, Shivram was not ready to listen and kept threatening him, Amrita alleged.
Upset by the threats and coercion, she alleged, her brother went in and hanged himself even as Shivram was standing outside. Relatives, busy with wedding arrangements, did not notice Sudhir’s absence until an hour later.
Ravendra said the family had initially named the ERO as the prime accused and the kanungo as the co-accused in their complaint, but the police and administration allegedly made them change it, leaving only the kanungo named. Additional Superintendent of Police (Fatehpur) Mahendra Pal Singh denied the allegation and said the police have lodged the FIR based on the family’s complaint.
According to Ravendra, Sudhir’s father died years ago, and he was the only one looking after his mother and sister. He said Sudhir used to earn a living by selling eggs and water bottles by the roadside and even worked as MNREGA labourer. Alongside this, he completed his graduation and prepared for government exams.
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“We have given a call to boycott the SIR work from tomorrow (Thursday) if action is not taken against those responsible for Sudhir’s death. The protest will continue until the family gets justice,” he said.
State President of the Lekhpal Association, Bhupendra Singh, told The Indian Express that the boycott call would be issued across the state if the erring officials are not taken to task.
He also claimed that Lekhpals were being harassed and summoned to meetings late at night, even though their names were not mentioned in the official SIR duty documents.
