
Daridi Deb Roy, a female government employee serving as a circle officer in the Bijni area of Chirang district, Assam, has filed a complaint with the Chief Election Officer (CEO), accusing her senior IAS officer, Abhishek Jain, of subjecting her to mental harassment.
The serious allegations shed light on a distressing situation within the bureaucratic ranks. In the complaint, Deb Roy stated that she had been unable to perform her assigned duties for several days due to severe depression resulting from what she described as mental harassment and humiliation by IAS officer Abhishek Jain.
The accusations include a series of incidents where Jain allegedly misbehaved, creating a hostile work environment for Deb Roy. One particular incident mentioned in the complaint occurred on December 16, 2023, when Abhishek Jain contacted Deb Roy regarding a land allocation issue.
According to the letter, Jain abruptly hung up the phone without allowing Deb Roy to present the case and spoke in a scary and intimidating tone. The circle officer also claimed that she was deliberately excluded from a social media group meant for work linked to the office, further hindering her professional engagement.
Expressing her fear of continued psychological distress, Deb Roy expressed concerns that Jain might take advantage of her perceived failure to fulfill duties as an opportunity to chastise and humiliate her once more.
She explicitly mentioned in the letter, “With constant fear, I will not be able to perform my duties well and serve the people of Bijni to the fullest. “Furthermore, Deb Roy disclosed the severe toll on her mental health, stating, “Hence requesting to intervene as my mental health is deteriorating, which in turn is affecting my physical health as I have been having sleepless nights due to anxiety, stress, and trauma.”
The letter reached a somber note, mentioning a breakdown point leading to severe depression and even suicidal tendencies.In response to the allegations, Abhishek Jain stated, “I have given few duties to perform for public welfare following which few allegations have come up against me, and I will give a written reply in which everything will be clear.”
His response implies a connection between the duties assigned and the accusations made against him. Debajit Barua, the additional Chief Election Officer in Assam, acknowledged awareness of the complaint but clarified that he had seen it only in the media circle and had not officially received it yet.
The unfolding situation highlights the need for a thorough investigation into workplace harassment, emphasizing the impact on mental health within the government sector.