Assam: Junior engineer’s suicide in Bongaigaon sparks public outcry, senior PWD officials arrested for alleged harassment

A disturbing case of alleged workplace harassment has emerged from Assam’s Bongaigaon district following the tragic suicide of a young woman engineer. The deceased, identified as Joshita Das, was a Junior Engineer working with the Public Works Department (PWD – Housing) and had been posted in the district for nearly a year.

Joshita was found hanging in her rented accommodation at Barpara on Monday. A suicide note recovered from the scene has sent shockwaves through the administrative and engineering circles. In the note, she explicitly blamed two senior PWD officials—former Executive Engineer Dinesh Sharma Medhi and former SDO Aminul Islam—for subjecting her to severe mental harassment and coercion.

According to the note, Joshita had been pressured relentlessly to clear a pending contractor’s bill despite glaring procedural discrepancies. She detailed how both officials allegedly pushed her to approve financial documents tied to the “MIN Stadium at Borsojgaon under Gossaigaon LAC” project, executed in consultation with M/s Achetic Creations. The project reportedly lacked essential architectural drawings and documentation.

The deceased also noted that the contractor, identified as Rudra Pathak, had no site engineer, placing the full burden of execution and decision-making on her shoulders. She claimed she repeatedly sought assistance but was denied support.

In the same note, Joshita accused architect Debajit Sarma of submitting an incomplete and inaccurate estimate, containing numerous discrepancies. She stated that despite flagging these issues, she was isolated and pressured to proceed with the project without help.

Though both Medhi and Islam had recently been transferred—Medhi to the Nalbari NH Division and Islam to the Office of the Chief Engineer—they allegedly continued exerting undue influence on her from their new postings.

Following her death, Joshita’s mother filed an FIR at the Bongaigaon Police Station, accusing the two officials of persistently harassing her daughter for clearing the controversial bill. “She used to talk about the work pressure. She was mentally shattered,” the grieving mother told reporters.

The Bongaigaon police have since arrested both officials, confirming their involvement in the case based on preliminary investigation. Sources stated that the suicide note, now in police custody, will serve as crucial evidence in the ongoing probe.

Joshita’s death has reignited concerns about corruption and toxic work culture within government departments, particularly the lack of mental health support for young professionals in high-pressure roles.

The body has been sent for post-mortem examination, and authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation into the matter.