Woman watcher dies by suicide at Harrison Estate in Thrissur; suicide note alleges mental harassment at workplace

THRISSUR: A woman watcher of the Harrison Estate at Kundayi, Palappilly in Thrissur committed suicide due to severe mental harassment at her workplace. The dead identified as Manjusha (41), daughter of Balan of Oottupurakkal in Chembuchira, was found dead at an electric tower about 500 metres from the factory. Police also recovered a suicide note naming three factory employees responsible for her death.

Manjusha had suffered serious injuries three years ago following an electric shock from a solar fence while she was on duty. Due to her physical difficulties, she was appointed as a watcher in the factory compound. However, despite being ill, she was sent to work alone in an outdoor plantation prone to wild animal attacks for the past 20 days. Having to report for duty alone in an area frequented by wild boars, elephants and leopards caused her severe mental distress.

Manjusha received an abusive message on her phone from someone in the management after she went outside for 15 minutes during working hours with the permission of another management staff member, in last July. The allegation is that after threatening to file a complaint against this, three staff members began to mentally harass her out of vengeance.

Her suicide note had mentioned that she was deliberately sent to work at a plantation near the forest with the intention of mentally harassing her. The Varantharappilly police completed the inquest proceedings. Estate workers went on strike in protest against her death.