Kerala SAI hostel horror: SIT to probe deaths of 2 girl students; parents cite mental harassment, coaches, warden under lens

KOLLAM: A six-member special investigation team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the deaths of two female students who were found hanging at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) hostel, amid allegations of mental harassment and an excessively restrictive hostel system.The team, led by Kollam East SHO Pushpa Kumar, will function under the supervision of Kollam assistant commissioner of police S Sharif. The director general of police has ordered a detailed probe following complaints against the hostel management, including coaches and the warden.The incident happened last Thursday when Sandra, 18, a native of Kozhikode, and Vaishnavi, 16, from Thiruvananthapuram, were found hanging from ceiling fans in their hostel room. The family alleged that they were not informed about the deaths by SAI authorities and came to know of the incident only after being contacted by police.Sandra’s mother, Sindhu, said her daughter had repeatedly expressed discomfort with hostel life and wanted to return home after completing Class XII to pursue a physiotherapy course. “Because of our situation, I kept asking her to continue there. She used to share everything with us,” she said.Sindhu alleged that communication restrictions became stricter after a change of warden about a month ago. She claimed that the hostel incharge, Rajeev, had warned Sandra against allowing her mother to speak to the warden and told her she could be sent out if she did so. “She could not call us directly and had to use others’ phones. I sensed a change in her voice,” she said.Sandra’s father, Ravi, alleged that his daughter had faced severe mental harassment from a physical education teacher.He has mentioned it in the complaint submitted to police. He claimed there were unexplained aspects to the deaths and said that Sandra and Vaishnavi were not close friends. Relatives have also raised suspicion over the suicide notes recovered, alleging similarities in handwriting.Police said statements of the victims’ classmates and SAI officials will be recorded afresh as part of the probe. The SIT will examine all allegations, including the role of hostel staff, communication restrictions imposed on trainees and the circumstances leading to the deaths.