Mangaluru sports hostel inspected, Lokayukta flags worm-infested food, fund misuse: Report
Mangaluru: An impromptu inspection of the Dakshina Kannada district's Sports Boys and Girls Hostel in Mannagudda by the Karnataka Lokayukta has exposed alarming lapses in food quality, accommodation, and fund utilisation.
The investigation, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Dr. Gana P. Kumar, along with Inspectors Bharathi J. and Ravi Pawar, revealed unhygienic conditions in the hostel’s kitchen, including worm-infested rice and substandard cooking oil, as reported by Deccan Herald on Saturday.
The inspection team also noted the absence of a stock register at the facility, which houses around thirty students. The athletes residing there have reportedly been receiving poor-quality, non-nutritious meals, and have been forced to eat in a cramped, shared space due to limited dining facilities.
The hostel's infrastructure is also reportedly inadequate, with five students squeezed into a single room. Despite government funds being allocated for sports equipment, parents have had to purchase supplies for their children for nearly half the year. Additionally, the shoes distributed under the grant were of such poor quality that they wore out within weeks.
Furthermore, parents had to bear travel expenses for sporting events, suggesting misuse of government grants, added the report.
The Lokayukta inspection further revealed a lack of basic facilities, such as telephone services for the students and non-functional computers. Despite the students' frequent absences from class due to sports commitments, there were no provisions for academic support, counselling, or regular health check-ups.
Irregularities were also found in food supply contracts, stock verification, and the renewal of tenders.
In a concerning revelation, the Lokayukta found that despite their offices being located just 100 metres away at Mangala Stadium, the Assistant Director and Deputy Director of Youth Empowerment and Sports had never inspected the hostel, added DH.
Lokayukta SP (in-charge) Kumarachandra mentioned that a detailed report would be submitted for further action.
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23-year-old woman found dead at Delhi home; suicide suspected
New Delhi (PTI): A 23-year-old woman was found dead in her house in Delhi's Prem Nagar area, with police suspecting it to be a case of suicide, an official said on Tuesday.
The deceased, identified as Anjali Singh, was found motionless in her room on Monday by her sister and her neighbour.
Police said her father, Vinod Kumar Singh (51), told them that he and his wife were away at work at the time of the incident, while their son and the other daughter were also not at home at the time of the incident.
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According to the family, the room in which Anjali was found was locked from the inside. The door was later forcibly opened by a neighbour and her sister with the help of a crowbar.
Her body was found lying on the bed inside the room, police said.
Preliminary inquiry revealed that Anjali had allegedly hanged herself using a piece of cloth tied to the ceiling fan.
It is suspected that the noose eventually might have loosened or torn off, resulting in her being found lying on the bed.
Family members informed the police that Anjali was a final-year student of a librarian science course from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). About a week ago, her final-year examination results were declared, and she had failed, following which she had been under depression, they said.
The family has not raised any allegation of foul play, police said, adding that no suicide note or external injury marks were found on the body during the initial inspection.
Inquest proceedings have been initiated in the matter as per the law. The body has been sent for post-mortem examination to ascertain the exact cause of death, and further investigation is underway, police added.
