Caste Discrimination: Vishnu Assistant Manager, belonging to scheduled caste joined 2013 in Indian Overseas bank and worked Chennai since 2013 upto eight years. Thereafter transferred to Kerala and now Assistant manager grade I at Kochi. He came out against two of his senior officials and alleged that he was subjected to caste discrimination and abuse by Kashmir Singh and Nitish Singh who are higher officials in the Same Bank.
The person who tortured by the accused’s, a resident of Mulavukad at Ernakulam district in Kerala, has been working in the bank’s regional office on MG Road, Kochi, since 2022.The complainant faced problems that based on caste discrimination and torture include physical assault continiously from senior officer took charge at the office where he worked.
“When one of the officers first joined the office in Kochi, my husband used to help him pilot around the city and make known with the place, but after a point, he started taking it for granted, asking him to bring tea, medicines and other things and even do domestic work during office hours. When the embarrassment turned unbearable, my husband refused to do the same. After this, the officers started to hurl caste-based slurs and even started assault him for disobeying superiors,” the wife of the Assistant Manager said.
A complaint was registered at Mulavukad police station and the senior officials were reacted in the issue in August 2024. But the complaint was withdrawn due to the threats from senior official. But the higher officials continued to treat him badly, increasing his workload and Bank also suspended the victim for two months on November 1st 2024 allegedly sent confidential file to two others which was fabricated. Bank also cut down 11 years salary increment that leads to injustice and only with enmity of the Higher officials. And allegedly forwarded messaged to whats aap groups however the victim denies those allegations and his wife stated that the mail ID and password was given by the Bank to their employees.
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The Bank officials accusing him wrongly of illegally leaking confidential matters of the Bank that was false and fabricated by the alleged higher officials. The wife of the complaint alleged that the Officials were fabricating evidences against Vishnu.The case filed by the complainant regarding the transfer and salary cut is under the consideration of the High Court and court stayed the transfer order of the Bank.
Kashmir singh hit his back the difficulties continues to two days after the incident. He took medical assistance from Government General Hospital, Ernakulam. however no action was taken against the offender after The incident reported to the CRM.
He filed complaint to the police station dated September 1 however the Kashmir Singh threatened him .The internal enquiry against Vishnu was biased and there was no whats app messages as they alleged . there was absence of “audi alteram partem” bank denied the opportunity to hear the side of the Assistant Manager. The Accused Kashmir singh assaulted the Assistant Manager in front of many other employees and some of the employees gave their statement that they saw the assault however the committee didn’t recorded the statement and recorded that the Kashmir singh slightly pattered back of the Assistant Manager Vishnu.
An allegation of caste discrimination charged against two other officials of the Indian Overseas Bank in Kochi. An FIR was registered by Ernakulum Central police on Dec 23, 2024, against an assistant manager and chief regional manager of the bank based on the complaint filed by a staff member of the bank. Based on a complaint from the officer, a case has been filed at Ernakulam Central police station under SC/ST Act for verbal and physical abuse and discrimination based on caste. Kashmir singh the main accused threatened the Assistant manager who filed complaint to the police station through phone and forced him to withdraw the complaint the same day itself. Nitish kumar singh instruct us to follow instructions of Kashmir singh instead of disciplinary action against the accused. The Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI) held a protest dharna at the regional office of the bank in Ernakulum.
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As per the FIR, the accused allegedly insulted the complainant since Aug 2023 using phrases like ‘Neeche Admi’ and ‘Chameen ke beche’ in Hindi. The FIR also states that one of the accused told the complainant on Aug 7, 2024, to go to the medical shop to purchase medicines, and when he refused, he was beaten up. Kashmir Singh instruct him to go to shoping with her daughter to assist her. The one of the accused in the complaint named Kashmir Singh who treated the complainant very much discriminatory and tried to impose some works that not part of the official duty and told to the complainant that you and your community have duty to serve his community and that’s why he assigned works including domestic works for him. Police said that the investigation is in progress under the sections of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities)..
The two other officers also filed complaint against bank and they reinstated with the order of High court of Kerala.
The bank has denied the allegations. A statement issued by the bank stated that “No formal representation regarding the matter has been received from any recognised union, officers, association or the SC/ST employees association to the bank. The allegations may be influenced by personal agenda aimed at benefiting certain individuals or organisations.”
A senior officer said that one of the accused belongs to Scheduled Caste, hence the charges cannot be invoked against him. The other accused has secured a bail from the high court. The officer added that they collected available evidence, including CCTV visuals, as part of the probe, and a final report would be filed soon.
Meanwhile, a statement issued by the regional office of the bank said that the matter in question was already under investigation by the police and a case was registered.
“Indian Overseas Bank has a well-established grievance redressal mechanism in place, ensuring that all employees, including those belonging to SC/ST, OBC, women, and other categories, have a structured and fair platform to raise their concerns. The bank strictly adheres to all govt. guidelines and internal policies to maintain an inclusive and equitable.
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work environment,” the statement said. It added that all internal matters were being handled as per the bank’s policies and procedures. It is also important to note that the events taking place may be influenced by a personal agenda aimed at benefiting certain individuals, the statement said.
Bank appoint one Mr.Kameshwar rao AGM of Indian Overseas Bank, Bangloore to investigate the incident against the Assistant Manager, Vishnu and the AGM conducted the enquiry with bias and didn’t gave opportunity to submit the version of the Assistant manager who is the victim . And some of the employees gave their statements that discloses the truth and the offence committed by the Kashmir Singh to the victim in front of other employees in the same Branch. However the report of the AGM was also for helping the accused and didn’t contain the witness statements truthfully. After the direction of the High court of Kerala bank ready to receive the version of the complainant. Kashmir singh was transferred to the head office Chennai, he enjoyed more privilege instead of disciplinary action.
Police advised to withraw the complaint. However 10 th December he filed another complaint the same was delayed the registration of FiR. The case was register only on 2rd December against Kashmir Singh and Nitesh Singh under sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s), 3(2)(va) of the scheduled caste and scheduled tribe (prevention of atrocities)Act, 1989.
This types of caste based atrocities very common in North India however in South India specially in Kerala also experienced the same was shocking the general public and Dalit groups raise their voice against this injustice and the wife of the Victim gave interview to some social media platforms and her support reveal the truth to the public.
( Bindu Ammini, Advocate, Dalit Activist and Writer)
*दलित टाइम्स उन करोड़ो लोगो की आवाज़ है जिन्हें हाशिए पर रखा गया है। *
महिला, दलित और आदिवासियों के मुद्दों पर केंद्रित पत्रकारिता करने और मुख्यधारा की मीडिया में इनका प्रतिनिधित्व करने के लिए हमें आर्थिक सहयोग करें।
