20 SAI athletes go on leave to recover from trauma after colleagues' suicide pact

Alappuzha (Kerala): Jolted by the attempted suicide of their four young women colleagues, which led to the death of one, 20 athletes of the Sports Authority of India Centre have taken leave to recover from the trauma.

"All 20 are boys. Another 12 women athletes have also sought permission to go on leave," a SAI official at the Water Training Centre here told PTI.

The students and their parents had requested SAI Director General Injeti Srinivas, during his visit to the campus on Friday, that they be given the break to recover from the shock of the incident.

In a tragic turn of events early this week, a young athlete Aparna Ramabhadran died and three of her colleagues were battling for life at the Medical College Hospital here after they ate a poison fruit under an apparent suicide pact following alleged harassment by seniors at the SAI centre.

The four were undergoing training at the Water Sports Centre of the SAI here. The official said the DG permitted those seeking leave, but asked them to rejoin at least by Friday next. The students were asked not to panic.

"You should not panic and run away from any crisis, but face it," the official, quoting the DG, said.

The official denied reports that the centre had been temporarily closed down. "The centre is functioning. There are 55 students in the centre. Those wanting to go home would be permitted only along with their parents and after signing the register," he said.

Meanwhile, Medical Superintendent Dr Santosh Raghavan said the condition of the three athletes undergoing treatment was stable for the time being. The external pacemaker of one of the girls has been removed, he said.

SAI hands over Rs 5 lakh cheque to family of deceased athlete:

Sports Authority of India Director General Injeti Srinivas on Friday gave a solatium of Rs 5 lakh to the family of rowing athlete Aparna, who died after consuming poison fruit along with three other colleagues, alleging harassment from seniors.

The SAI Director General, who visited the grieving parents also offered job to a family member. Those undergoing treatment at the hospital, whose condition is said to be stable, were given Rs 25,000 each and also ensured the best possible medical help.

One of the senior girls, against whom allegations of harassment were made by the family members of the deceased rower, denied before television channels that they had done anything wrong.

"We do not know why such allegations have been made," she said, adding she herself had taken the girls in an autorickshaw to the hospital after one of them complained of uneasiness at the hostel on Wednesday night.

While Aparna died early on Thursday, the three others are undergoing treatment at the Alapuzha medical college hospital here.

Srinivas was directed by Sports Ministry to rush here for an on-the-spot assessment in the wake of the tragic incident.

Meanwhile, Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala also visited the family of Aparna. They also handed over a detailed complaint with regards to the mental and physical harassment meted out to the girls by two senior girls and coach.

Chennithala later told reporters that ASP Merin Joseph will also be part of the SIT, which is probing the case.

After the incident, now SAI centres in Kerala are temporarily closed. Students will return after a week.