KSE demands CID probe into student's drowning

'Chief minister should visit school and interact with people'

Opposition Leader in the Legislative Council K S Eshwarappa demanded a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probe into the drowning of a student, Sanmith, in a pond behind his school in Periyapatna, a couple of months ago.

Addressing mediapersons here on Monday, he said the Police Department is not able to come to a conclusion in the case and feels that a probe should be conducted by a higher agency.

“As such a thing has happened in Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s home district, he should have visited the spot and interacted with the people to instill confidence among the parents of the victim. At least now, the chief minister should visit the school and direct the authorities concerned to probe the case and come to a conclusion at the earliest,” Eshwarappa said.

Siddaramaiah’s only aim was to become chief minister, which has been achieved. So, now he is not bothered about anything else, Eshwarappa ridiculed.

Sanmith, son of one Sohankumar, a resident of Periyapatna town, had gone missing from the school and was found dead in a pond behind his school two days later. He was a first standard student of Pushpa Convent.

Citing that he had an argument with the school management over payment of capitation fees, Sohankumar had suspected that the school authorities would have killed his son.
The school had been closed for a couple of days, due to protests, and was opened following a peace meeting.

‘Room for suspicion’
Eshwarappa said he has discussed the issue with Superintendent of Police Abhinav Khare and the investigating officer in the presence of Sanmith’s parents.

“The parents say Sanmith was not willing to go to school complaining that he was being harassed in the school. The behaviour of the school authorities, since the incident, is also giving room for suspicion. Hence, the chief minister and the home minister should initiate steps to hand over the case to the Criminal Investigation Department for a probe,” the Opposition leader said.

Probe still on, says SP
Meanwhile, speaking to media persons after a meeting with Eshwarappa, Khare said the investigation is still on.

He said he cannot say anything concrete about the case now.