Cuncolim Municipal employee threatens to commit suicide

Whistle blower Goa govt employee threatens suicide

Damino T Almeida, a whistle blower employee of a local governing body in the western Indian state of Goa who has been served with a show cause notice has threatened to commit suicide if he is suspended from service.

Almeida it is alleged in the show cause notice signed by Chief Officer of Cuncolim Municipality Shankar B Gaonkar that he ‘without any permission recorded and leaked the official discussion between the undersigned and Mr Rafiq Raja Mulla Labour contractor, to some persons and said person in his collusion has published the said official recording in manipulation on social media such as You Tube and Whatsapp.”

Almeida says he is not well verse with the features of the mobile.

“The chief officer asked me whether my mobile is having a voice regarding I said that I do not know to operate the mobile.”

“Till today, I do not know to operate the features of my mobile in case if I was guilty the chief officer should immediately file a criminal complaint against me and the mobile should be handed over to police for further inquiry,” he has said in his letter.

The Chief Officer’s show cause notices states that Alemida’s act of ‘recording official conversion’ amounts to subordination, dereliction of duties, gross misconduct and unbecoming of govt servant. Also his integrity is doubtful to allow him to continue his official duty in the office of Cuncolim Municipal Council.

Almeida alleges that many occasions in the past the Chief Officer used to use his mobile and did not use his, to call several people.

“Most (many times in the past) of the time the chief officer has asked me to call from my mobile to several people and he was not using his mobile because my mobile is having a recording and he has spoken to several people he has a doubt that may trap him in some case,” Almeida has feared in a letter addressed to the local Cuncolim Police station, copies of which have been sent to the Supt. Of Police Margao and the Chief Minister of Goa Manohar Parrikar.

“I am a Cuncolim municipal worker and I have to look after my old mother and my wife and daughter and I will be unable to survive if he suspends me by misusing his power and position. I have only option to commit suicide. I request all the above authority to take action as per law.”

The municipal worker alleges that his superior has illegally taken away his mobile and has urged the police to register a theft, misuse of power, wrongful restrain and extortion complain against the Goa government employee.

“The chief officer has forcefully taken my mobile set that I have requested the chief officer to give my mobile set back, chief officer refused to give back.

“The Chief Officer is misusing his power and position and depriving me of my mobile cell. Till now the chief officer kept my mobile in his person.”

Meanwhile many citizens have come in support of Almeida.

A social worker questions as to how a conversion between the Chief Officer and the Garbage Contractor, which took place on Almeida’s mobile can be termed official.

“As far as I know, the call was made from Damino’s mobile number to the contractor, so can it be termed as an ‘official conversion’.”

He questions as to whether providing girls to work in home and giving money to the chairperson is also part of the official duties of the Chief Officer.

People who have heard the conversion on the youtube video said the Chief Officer has walked into the trap laid by the alert citizens.

“At no point of time does the video says it is Shankar Goankar the Chief officer who is talking on the audio, as the video does not mention the time the alleged ‘Official conversion’ took place and the name of the Chief Officer. By giving a show cause notice to Damino, The Chief Officer has admitted that it is his voice behind the controversial clip,” added another..