Kundapur: Members of Billawa association, SFI and people of Upralli picketed the R.N.Shetty College of Kundapur on July 30, Wednesday alleging that the college was responsible for the suicide of 17 year old Supreetha, a II PUC(Science) student of the college.
It may be recalled here that Supreetha, daughter of Srinivas Poojary who had allegedly ended her life on July 28, Monday, had left behind a death note in which she had stated that she was deeply agonised due to the unnecessary teasing in college by students. She had also mentioned in the death note that she was not in love with anyone.
Though Supreetha had attended college on Saturday, she was on leave on Monday. The College Principal had telephoned her house the same day and the call was received by Supreetha’s uncle in her absence. As it was unusual for the College Principal to telephone a student’s house when she was on leave just for a day, the same has given room for suspicion if some incident had taken place in the college on Saturday.
The protestors alleged that Supreetha was not the kind of a girl who would end her life for any reason and that her death note clearly pinpointed the negligence of the college authorities.
The protestors also picketed the Principal’s Chamber.
The protest was withdrawn after Byndoor SI Santosh Kaikini and Kundapur SI Prasad D Kavari assured to undertake a thorough probe after registering a case against the College Head under Section 307.
The protest was participated among others by local Billawa Sangha’s Honorary President and JDS) local unit chief Rajeeva Kotian, Women’s wing chief of Billawa Sangha and Councillor Gunaratna. BJP leader Rajesh Kadgimane, Congress town unit Chief Ganesh Sheregar, SFI Secretary Srikanth Hemmady, DYFI leader Rajesh Vaderahobali and others.
The background : According to sources, about one and a half months ago, the name of a male student was written on the bench on which Supreetha used to sit. The girl was reportedly disturbed following this. But a lecturer of the college blew this issue out of proportion and the matter was taken to the Principal.
According to College Principal Naveen Kumar Shetty there has been a practice of telephoning the residence of students who were absent on any particular day after it was found that some students who used to leave home for college, instead of attending classes used to loiter outside and return home in the evenings.
The principal said he had telephoned Supreetha’s house as she was absent. He also clarified that Supreetha had never brought to his attention any problem which she had faced in the college.
