Bengaluru: The test conducted following the death of three students of a private international residential school in Karnataka’s Tumakuru district, revealed that the food was poisoned. This points the needle of suspicion towards hostel staff.
Dr. Dinesh, district doctor of Tumakuru, who conducted post mortem of the bodies, confirmed the deaths due to poison. He suspected that the insecticide or any other poison might have intentionally mixed with the food served to the children. The samples of food were again sent to forensic lab for further inspection. In the primary investigation Forensic Science Department had also confirmed death due to poison.
A team has been set up headed by DYSP Venu Gopal to conduct probe into the matter. Case has been booked against 6 persons in this connection. 4 are being interrogated while two are absconding.
SP told that though CCTV cameras are installed in the residential school but all are defunct. Police has seized digital video recorder (DVR) as precautionary measure. Police suspects that the ex-principal of the school, Ravi could be behind the crime.
Police would also be investigating a conspiracy angle to the poisoning incident as well since the previous principal had been sacked three months ago by Kumar following allegations of his involvement in a relationship with a female member of the school board.
The school is said to be owned by K S Kiran Kumar, a former BJP MLA, and his wife Kavitha Kiran under the aegis of a family trust called the Shri Basappa and Marulappa Seva Trust. On Wednesday at the hostel in Ballakatte village attached to Huliyar town the four students and the guard, who had come to the dining room before the others, started vomiting soon after eating the rice and sambar, and fell unconscious. They were taken to the private hospital in Huliyar but did not respond to treatment and were shifted to the district hospital. Three students died on the way.