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Written By: Editorial Team | Published : May 8, 2015 10:08 AM IST
Adding to the woes of an already neglected section of the Indian sport scenario, a young girl athlete from Kerala died and three others were hospitalised after consuming poisonous fruit at the Sports Authority of India's (SAI) water sports centre at Vembanad lake. These athletes were inmates at the centre, informed police superintendent Suresh Kumar, Alappuzha district.
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. The local police that began the probe recovered a suicide note purportedly written jointly by the athletes, Alappuzha district police superintendent Suresh Kumar said. (Read: Stigma a major barrier for prevention)
'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. (Read: Disapproving teenagers choices can increase suicide risk)
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 said 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 said 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.
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the world, especially among young people. Nearly one million people worldwide die by suicide each year. This corresponds to one death by suicide every 40 seconds. Suicide is a temporaryy solution to a permanant problem. It might seem temporary to an on looker but it is not the case to the person going through the problem. He might not have anyone to shre his problem with and that is when support plays an important role.
If you see the following signs, its time you understand that he has suicidal tendencies:
However, it is also possible that some people may not show any of these signs before they decide to commit suicide. So, all you can really do is make sure you are there for them when they do need you. Read more..
With inputs from IANS
Image source: IANS
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