The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Bank employee commits suicide

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Sunday, Aug 26, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Bank employee commits suicide

Staff Reporter

Father alleges she was harassed by colleague

Shylaja was a native of Mysore district
She had informed the women’s commission about the harassment

BANGALORE: Following alleged sexual harassment by her senior colleague, a bank employee committed suicide by hanging herself from a ceiling fan at her uncle’s house in 7th Block, Jayanagar, on Friday.

The police gave her name as Shylaja Praveen (23), a native of Mysore district. She was working with ING Vysya Financial Services’ Basavanagudi branch, situated at Netkallappa Circle. Shylaja’s father has lodged a complaint with the Banashankari police that the bank’s regional head Bharath, whose office is located on M.G. Road, had been sexually harassing her.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Alok Kumar told The Hindu that the complainant had showed the police an SMS Shylaja had received on her mobile phone asking her to come to a mall. “We will take necessary action after a th orough investigation,” Mr. Kumar said.

Shyalaja’s body was handed over to her family after the autopsy at Kempe Gowda Institute of Medical Sciences on Saturday.

Pramila Nesargi, chairperson, Karnataka Women’s Commission, visited the family on Saturday. She told this correspondent that even though Shylaja had complained about the harassment, no action was taken by her superiors. “The bank does not have a committee to look into sexual harassment at the workplace. This despite the Supreme Court issuing guidelines in this regard in the Vishaka case. The bank has clearly not followed the court’s guidelines,” she said.

She said that Shylaja had come to her earlier and complained about the harassment. “I had advised her to talk to her superiors. Unfortunately, they were not very helpful. One of her bosses said he would help her find another job after directing her to save the messages sent by Bharath,” she said.

Ms. Nesargi also said that Shylaja was last seen leaving the bank on Friday around 4 p.m. weeping. She had complained about the harassment to her colleague Prashanth. Shylaja’s father, however, has lodged a complaint against both Prashanth and Bharath.

She said Shylaja was married to Praveen, but the marriage was on the rocks. Shylaja had reportedly met her (Ms. Nesargi) and discussed the issue. The couple had agreed to part ways and the matter was pending in the family court.

Bank clarifies

Meanwhile, in a press note, ING Vysya said it had well-established policies and procedures against harassment and there were multiple formal channels open to its employees to air their grievances. The bank said it had verified its internal records and had concluded that speculations over harassment were unwarranted. The communiqué added that the bank would cooperate in the investigation.

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