Ragging ruled out in athletes' suicide bid probe

Protests at the Sports Authority of India headquarters following the attempted suicide of 4 athletes

Alappuzha (Kerala) June 2 (IANS): A preliminary police probe into the suicide attempt by four young athletes in Kerala has ruled out their alleged ragging, sources said.

The incident occurred last month at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Water Sports Centre in Vembanad lake near here. Of the four athletes, who attempted suicide, one, aged 15, died and three were discharged after being hospitalised for nearly two weeks.

Sources said the probe by police crime branch did not come across any evidence suggesting that these athletes were ragged by seniors at the SAI Centre.

The probe found that these athletes were reprimanded by higher-ups at the centre for consuming beer and senior students had made fun of them, prompting the four young women to take the extreme step by consuming poisonous fruit.

The final report is likely to be submitted only after finding out how these girls got access to beer.

Following the passing away of one athlete and the media taking the issue in a big way, top SAI officials rushed from Delhi and conducted their own investigation.

The visiting officials' probe too ruled out any ragging as being alleged by relatives of the four athletes. They held counselling sessions for the 55 inmates.

Meanwhile, the tree bearing the poisonous fruit was axed.