"It's Not Suicide, It's Murder": Dalit Woman Stenographer's Death in Kanpur Court Sparks Outcry Over Caste Harassment

Kanpur-  A young Dalit woman stenographer, Neha Sankhwar (30), died after falling from the sixth floor of the Kanpur court premises on Saturday, in a case that has ignited allegations of relentless caste-based harassment by her colleagues. While the police are investigating it as a suicide, her family has vehemently alleged that she was systematically driven to her death, calling it a murder.

The incident occurred around 2:30 PM on Saturday. Neha, who had joined her job just four months ago, was seen in the court complex as usual before the tragic fall. She was rushed to a hospital but was declared dead by doctors.

The official narrative of suicide, however, is being fiercely contested by Neha's grieving family. They point to a persistent and painful ordeal she allegedly endured since starting her job.

Neha’s father, Govind Prasad, is a revenue officer in Fatehpur, while her brother, Bhanu Pratap, serves as a sub-inspector in Etawah. Her younger sister, Nisha, is preparing for competitive examinations.

Neha, a resident of Kotra Makrandpur in Ghatampur, was living in a rented house near Barra Bypass. She came to the court as usual on Saturday. CCTV footage shows her heading alone to the sixth floor before the incident.

Neha's grandfather, Jay Prakash Sankhwar, stated that his granddaughter was deeply troubled due to harassment she faced for being a Dalit. "She had only been working for four months. In these four months, she was continuously harassed because of her caste. She was always upset and lived under constant pressure," he told local reporters.

The family has accused her colleagues of subjecting her to discrimination and taunts, creating an unbearable work environment.

Going a step further, the family has raised suspicions about the circumstances of her death. "We are certain this is not a suicide. It could be that someone pushed her. This is a murder," Jay Prakash Sankhwar asserted, demanding a thorough investigation into the matter.

 An officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that preliminary investigation suggests Neha was under significant stress related to a specific court case she was involved with.

Police Commissioner Raghubir Lal, in a conversation with the media, confirmed that no suicide note was found from Neha's possession and that a thorough investigation into the matter is underway.

He provided context, stating, "The High Court had recently recruited 40-50 stenographers, and Neha was one of them. She was posted here at the Kanpur Civil Judge (Senior Division) court."

Regarding the incident of her falling from the sixth floor, the Police Commissioner offered a explanation: "The sixth floor was usually not frequented by anyone. Hardly anyone knew about the terrace. But since Neha was an employee, she went there through a window and jumped off."

This official statement comes in the wake of serious allegations from Neha's family, who have claimed that she was a victim of caste-based harassment by colleagues and have insisted that her death was not a suicide but a murder. The police are now investigating both angles – the stress from the court case and the allegations of caste-based harassment.

It is noteworthy that Neha had received this job only four months ago, and her family maintains that she was being persistently harassed due to her Dalit identity. The case has cast a spotlight on the working conditions and social pressures within the system.