RAIPUR: A 60-year-old watchman posted in state irrigation department in

committed suicide after he wasn't paid four months salary instead he was asked by the clerks to pay Rs 25,000 to get the salary.

Based on the content written in suicide note recovered from his house later, police have booked three clerks in the department who had allegedly taken a partial amount of Rs 25,000 as a bribe but refused to pay him salary which allegedly instigated him to end his life.

According to police, Rishi Dhruv of Panduka region in irrigation department was found hanging at his fields on June 25.

Family members of the deceased were shocked to learn about the reason behind suicide.

Police said that Dhruv has named three clerks in the department who had allegedly asked him for a bribe if he wanted to avail his salary of four months which was kept on hold by them. This has surprised employees within the department too.

Deceased grandson Onkar told mediapersons that he had gone along with Dhruv to the department a month ago when he was worried about his salary and he had requested the clerks in finance to release his salary.

When he was asked for Rs 25,000, Dhruv arranged 15,000 for the time being and gave the cash to the clerks, the grandson said being the witness but clerks were adamant, they won't release salary without paying the remaining amount.

He added that Dhruv was under pressure to pay off loans and bills which led him to take the extreme step leaving his family shocked. According to Panduka police station in charge, the case involves three government employees and an FIR was lodged against them under sections of the IPC. They were being questioned as well as other seniors were also in the loop to find out reasons for holding his salary.