Guwahati, July 31: The Assam Cabinet has approved a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the suspected suicide of Joshita Das, a 30-year-old Assistant Engineer with the Public Works Department (PWD) in Bongaigaon. The move comes after a wave of public anger and allegations of workplace harassment.
Das was found dead in her rented apartment in Borpara on July 21. A handwritten suicide note alleged that two senior officials had mentally harassed her and pressured her to clear inflated contractor bills with discrepancies.
In response, police have arrested three individuals: Devajit Sharma, consultant for the Barshanagar Mini Stadium Project; Dinesh Medhi Sharma, Superintending Engineer; and Aminul Islam, Sub-Divisional Officer.
At a press briefing following Thursday’s Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that the case had been thoroughly examined by a special investigation team (SIT), with post-mortem examinations, CDR analysis, and forensic procedures completed. However, he emphasised that the seriousness of the accusations warranted a deeper investigation.
“The cabinet is deeply concerned about the loss of a promising engineer. In light of public sentiment and the complexity of the case, we’ve decided to hand it over to the CBI,” Sarma said.
He added that the Chief Secretary had already spoken with the CBI Director, who informally agreed to take over the case. The formal transfer may take up to 25 days.
In a separate incident, the Chief Minister also commented on the arrest of Assamese actress Nandini Kashyap, now in two-day police custody following a fatal hit-and-run in Guwahati.
Samiul Haque, a 21-year-old student and part-time worker with the Guwahati Municipal Corporation, was struck around 2:30 AM on July 25 in Dakkhingaon by a speeding SUV allegedly driven by Kashyap. He later died from his injuries in a private hospital.
Sarma defended the delay in her arrest, explaining that it was initially classified as culpable homicide not amounting to murder—a bailable offence. After Haque’s death, it escalated to culpable homicide amounting to murder, making it non-bailable.
