SI aspirant runs... to death

Twenty-five-year-old Gopi Nayak applied for a sub-inspector’s job. A resident of Algod village of T Narsipur taluk in Mysore district, Gopi was called by the district police authorities to appear for and participate in a physical endurance test, a 1,600-metre run – the gold standard for making it to the force. On Tuesday, Gopi ran the race but collapsed on the tracks after running a distance of 350 of the 400 metres that was the fourth and final round of the gruelling endurance test. Seeing his friend in trouble, Naveen, who also ran the race, rushed to Gopi’s aid.

A few others who were watching also ran to help Gopi. Naveen thrust a glass of glucose water which Gopi gulped down with some difficulty. Gopi recovered and watched the rest of the proceedings along with the other applicants sitting under a ‘shamiyana’. But he knew that his failure to finish the run had disqualified him. Resigned to the fact that his hopes of joining the police force were dashed, Gopi completed the exit formalities, obtaining the certificate of disqualification which bore his thumb impression. Later, Gopi complained to Naveen of uneasiness.

The matter was brought to the notice of the police doctor who advised them  to admit Gopi to a local hospital. “He walked to the ambulance stationed nearby just for such emergencies. He lay on the stretcher inside the ambulance even before the doctor could join him. He died on his way to Gopalgowda Shanthaveri hospital,” said a downcast Naveen.