Three schoolchildren of a residential school in Huliyaru (Tumkur district) died due to suspected food poisoning on Wednesday night, while three others, including a watchman are undergoing treatment in a local hospital. The deceased - Shreyas (14), Shanthamurthy (16) and Akanksh Pallaki (16) are students of Vidyavaridhi International School, run by former MLA Kiran Kumar. The Huliyaru police have filed an FIR under IPC section 304, and also arrested Kiran Kumar.
According to sources, the children had eaten chapatis, rice and sambar for dinner. It is suspected that sambar was the reason for food poisoning as the children who consumed the same fell sick while those who had only curd rice had no complaints.
“I got the information about food poisoning last night and the students were immediately shifted to a local hospital. I suspect foul play,” claimed Kiran Kumar.
“The food samples have been sent to FSL (food safety laboratory) for testing while we await the postmortem reports of the deceased students to ascertain the cause,” said deputy commissioner K. P. Mohanraj.
Meanwhile, the parents of the deceased children were joined in by other parents to register protest against the school management. “The children are alleged to have fallen sick after having dinner yesterday. But the school informed us only in the next morning at 6 am. We don't know if they provided timely medical care. We demand stern action against the school and a thorough probe into the case,” cried an inconsolable parent.
