Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has suspended a top official of a state-owned electricity supply company after motors failed to function at the launch of a lift irrigation project by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, causing a major embarrassment.

The project is to replenish 150 lakes across 79 villages in Periyapatna taluk in the chief minister’s home district of Mysuru.

When Siddaramaiah pressed the button to launch the project on 24 January, the motors did not work at the event attended by a large gathering, including Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and some other ministers.

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Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC) Managing Director CN Sridhar has now been placed under suspension pending an inquiry on the charge of dereliction of duty.

According to the suspension order, Sridhar was not present at the venue to oversee the arrangements in view of the chief minister’s visit despite the Mysuru deputy commissioner instructing him to ensure electricity supply and take precautionary measures at the venue in a 23 January letter.

The action was taken against the official until further orders based on a report from the Mysuru deputy commissioner. Also, a departmental inquiry has been initiated against him.

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Agartala (PTI): A BJP councillor of Dharmanagar Municipal Council (DMC) in North Tripura died by suicide on Tuesday after he was allegedly threatened and humiliated by a group of youth following the saffron party's victory in the Dharmanagar bypoll, police said.

Rahul Kishore Roy, who was also the BJP's Yuva Morcha mandal president, took the extreme step a day after BJP candidate Jahar Chakraborti won the bypoll for the Dharmagar Assembly constituency by a massive margin.

Chief Minister Manik Saha expressed shock over the youth leader's death and assured an impartial inquiry into the allegations brought by the deceased’s wife, Ananya Bhattacharjee.

"I am shocked by the untimely death of Rahul Kishore Roy. May his soul rest in peace, and also offer my sympathy to the bereaved family. I also assured that an impartial inquiry will be conducted following the complaint of the deceased's wife", the CM wrote on Facebook.

Roy's wife has lodged a complaint with the local police station, holding seven persons responsible for her husband's death.

"Soon after the announcement of the results of the bypoll to the Dharmagnar Assembly bypoll, six to seven youths attacked our residence at Chandrapur at 3 pm and started hurling abuses at my husband. They also assaulted me to hand over my husband to them," she stated in the complaint.

Ananya said, "The same gang returned late at night again, attacked our house and hurled two or three bombs. They also threatened to eliminate my husband whenever he is found at Dharmanagar."

Deeply upset by the attacks and threats, my husband committed suicide by hanging from the ceiling early Tuesday morning. I urge the Officer in Charge (OC), Dharmanagar police station, to investigate against these people for justice, she said.

"Based on a specific complaint, we have registered a case, and an investigation is underway. No one has been arrested yet," SP, North Tripura, Avinash Kumar Rai said.

(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the state’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416.)