Editorial
The news that a junior officer at the Ernakulam branch of the Indian Overseas Bank (IOB), a government bank, has been subjected to caste-based discrimination is deeply shocking.
Vishnu, a 34-year-old Dalit officer, has reportedly faced severe mental harassment and physical assault by senior officials at the IOB.
It is said that the Deputy General Manager of IOB, Nithish Kumar Sinha, belongs to a dominant caste, while the Assistant General Manager, Kashmir Singh, is a Dalit. Despite this, both have allegedly collaborated to subject Vishnu to various forms of harassment over the past six months.
Vishnu has been forced to perform menial tasks such as fetching tea, buying medicine, updating passbooks of the officials’ family members at other banks, and watering plants in the office. He has also been humiliated using casteist slurs.
At one point, when Vishnu refused to fetch tea for the senior officials, he was physically assaulted within the bank premises. Unable to bear the harassment, Vishnu filed a police complaint against these officials. However, the senior officials intimidated him into withdrawing the complaint and it is learnt that he was forced to apologize on his knees.
In retaliation with a view to take vengeance on Vishnu, the officials initiated a disciplinary action against Vishnu by issuing a charge sheet to him and placing him under suspension. After an inquiry, his salary was reduced to the first stage of the scale by reducing 11 increments he had drawn and further his due increments were stopped for four more years. Further, he was issued with a punishment transfer to Ahmedabad.
Due to the continuous harassment, Vishnu filed another police complaint in December 2024. In the First Information Report (FIR) dated December 23, 2024, charges were framed against Nithish Kumar Sinha and Kashmir Singh.
In an interview with a television channel, Vishnu’s wife detailed the numerous atrocities he has faced.
Upon learning of the incident, the Bank Employees Federation of India -Kerala immediately intervened. Over 500 bank employees staged a powerful dharna in front of the IOB regional office on February 17, 2025. The national president of the BEFI, Comrade S S Anil gave an interview on the matter, which was widely covered by the media. The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) also held a dharna in support of the affected officer, Vishnu. Kerala Chief Minister Shri Pinarayi Vijayan has directed the police to take swift action. Marxist Communist Party MP Shri Radhakrishnan has written to the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, urging immediate intervention.
Comrade S S Anil has accused the IOB management of protecting the accused. The management transferred Kashmir Singh to Chennai, seemingly to shield him. The Assistant General Manager of IOB, Regional Office, Ernakulam issued a press note stating that no formal representation regarding this matter had been received from any recognized union, officers’ association or SC/ST employees’ association within the bank. The note further stated that the events taking place might be influenced by a personal agenda aimed at benefiting certain individuals or organizations. This is how the management of IOB views this issue of atrocity committed on a Dalit officer.
The fact that such atrocities could occur against an officer in a government bank in a city like Ernakulam for six months is highly disturbing. This incident underscores the urgent need for the democratic forces to take strong action against perpetuation of such injustices.
The struggle must continue until the officials responsible for the brutality are punished under the law and until all the vindictive actions against the junior officer Vishnu are completely withdrawn.
Castesm against an officer working in a bank is unheard of and is strongly condemnable and accused (whoever and whatever be his position) should be punished immediately which should teach a lesson to others.
Such mean and narrow minded Official exist in the Banks who discriminate humanbeings on caste basis – never heard of it earlier. Such people need to be rewarded with sever punishment so that such incidents are not repeated.
Very disheartening series of incidences the officer has faced. Such incidences have been rising nowadays instead of reducing all over the country in various fields.