Headlines
Multiple probes announced as police recover suicide note of Kerala athletes
Alappuzha (Kerala), May 7
Multiple probes have
commenced into the death of a young girl athlete and three others being
in serious condition after they consumed poisonous fruit upon being
admonished for drinking alcohol here, police said on Thursday.
One
of the girls in serious condition won a gold medal at the recently-held
35th National Games here. All the four were inmates at the Sports
Authority of India (SAI) water sports centre at Vembanad lake.
The
local police that began the probe recovered a suicide note purportedly
written jointly by the athletes, Alappuzha district police
superintendent Suresh Kumar told IANS.
"Yes, a note written by
the four has been recovered and it does not say anything about their
being ragged or harassed by seniors, but it mentions that for a small
mistake committed by them, they were being taken to task," Kumar said.
He added that apart from a dying declaration, a statement from the three has been taken by law enforcement officials.
Sports
Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, according to a ministry statement in New
Delhi, reacted strongly to suggestions that misdemeanour from SAI
officials led to their tragic action. He said sternest action would be
taken if police investigation found anyone from SAI guilty of any
wrongdoing.
Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, while
expressing shock about the incident, asked the state's Inspector General
of Police M.R. Ajith Kumar to conduct a probe.
The Kerala Human
Rights Commission has taken up the case suo moto and directed its
inspector general of police S. Sreejith to examine the case and submit a
report.
State Sports Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan has
asked Sports Secretary M. Sivasankar for a report on the incident and
announced that the medical expenses of the three athletes would be met
by the government.
Knowledgeable sources told IANS that the girls
- all of them are athletes in canoeing and kayaking - had drunk beer
and this was brought to the notice of the authorities who admonished the
girls for it.
Apparently unhappy at being scolded by the authorities, the four girls are believed to have consumed the poisonous fruit.
Alappuzha
district police superintendent Suresh Kumar told IANS that the
condition of the surviving athletes was critical and a stage was not yet
reached to pass judgement on their health.
"They were all
brought in a serious condition to the Alappuzha Medical College Hospital
yesterday (Wednesday) night after they consumed a poisonous fruit found
commonly in the state," he said.
"One of them, Aparna, passed
away early Thursday, while the three others have been put in the
intensive care unit of the hospital and doctors attending on them have
said that nothing can be said of the condition now," Kumar added.
By
Wednesday evening, the four girls developed uneasiness at the SAI
centre, located on an island off mainland Alappuzha, and were taken to
the General Hospital. After doctors found their condition serious, the
girls were brought to the medical college.
A close relative of
Aparna said the four girls were under severe stress because of the
mental and physical pressure put on them by the SAI authorities.
"A
few days ago Aparna was hit on her back using an oar. The hostel of the
SAI does not have proper safety measures for the inmates. It was a free
for all, to come and go inside the hostel campus," the relative told
the media.
Police are waiting for Aparna's autopsy report.
Sonowal also expressed his condolences and assured help to the bereaved family.
"I
am deeply aggrieved by the incident that has happened in Kerala. I
convey my condolences to the bereaved family. We will give all possible
help to the bereaved family," Sonowal said, according to the ministry
statement.
Sonowal said he has directed Sports Authority of India
director general Injeti Srinivas to ensure best treatment for the
athletes and to submit a factual report on the incident after visiting
the spot.
"I pray for their speedy recovery. To provide them the
best possible treatment is our top priority. I have also directed the
Director General of SAI to rush to the spot and give me a factual
report," he added.
Alappuzha (Kerala), May 7
A young girl athlete
died and three others were in a serious condition after they consumed
poisonous fruit upon being admonished for drinking alcohol here, police
said on Thursday.
One of the girls in serious condition had won a
gold medal at the recently-held 35th National Games here. All the four
were inmates at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) water sports centre
at Vembanad lake, Alappuzha district police superintendent Suresh Kumar
told IANS.
Sources in the know of things told IANS that the girls
- all of them are athletes in canoeing and kayaking - had drunk beer
and this was brought to the notice of the authorities. They admonished
these girls for it.
Unhappy at being scolded by the authorities, the four girls consumed the poisonous fruit.
Sports
Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, according to a ministry statement in New
Delhi, reacted strongly to suggestions that misdemeanour from SAI
officials led to their tragic action. He said sternest action would be
taken if police investigation found anyone from SAI guilty of any
wrongdoing.
Suresh Kumar also said that their condition was critical and a stage was not yet reached to pass judgement on their health.
"They
were all brought in a serious condition to the Alappuzha Medical
College Hospital yesterday (Wednesday) night after they consumed a
poisonous fruit found commonly in the state," he said.
"One of
them, Aparna, passed away early Thursday, while the three others have
been put in the intensive care unit of the hospital and doctors
attending on them have said that nothing can be said of the condition
now," Kumar added.
By Wednesday evening, the four girls developed
uneasiness at the SAI centre, located on an island off the mainland
Alappuzha, and were taken to the General Hospital. After doctors found
their condition serious, the girls were brought to the Medical College.
A
close relative of Aparna said the four girls were under severe stress
because of the mental and physical pressure put on them by the SAI
authorities.
"A few days ago Aparna was hit on her back using an
oar. The hostel of the SAI does not have proper safety measures for the
inmates. It was a free for all, to come and go inside the hostel
campus," the relative told the media.
Police are waiting for Aparna's autopsy report.
Sonowal also expressed his condolences and assured help to the bereaved family.
"I
am deeply aggrieved by the incident that has happened in Kerala. I
convey my condolences to the bereaved family. We will give all possible
help to the bereaved family," Sonowal said, according to a ministry
statement on Thursday.
Sonowal said he has directed Sports
Authority of India director general Injeti Srinivas to ensure adequate
treatment for the athletes and to submit a factual report on the
incident by visiting the spot.
"I pray for their speedy recovery.
To provide them the best possible treatment is our top priority. I have
also directed the Director General of SAI to rush to the spot and give
me a factual report," he added.