Parents demand probe after two trainee kabaddi players found dead in Kerala
Kollam: Parents of two trainee kabaddi players, found hanging dead at a Sports Authority of India (SAI) hostel in Kollam on January 15, have demanded a thorough investigation into the incident, raising serious questions about the facility’s management and oversight.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the victims were Vyshnavi V (15) from Muthakkal in Thiruvananthapuram district and Sandra A (18) from Chaliyam in Kozhikode district. Vyshnavi’s father, Venu, told the media that he does not believe his daughter would have taken her own life and alleged that the authorities delayed informing him about the tragedy.
Venu claimed that when he arrived at the SAI facility, the gatekeeper tried to lock him out, and he was only allowed inside after intervention by MP N. K. Premachandran and the Kollam Police Commissioner. He further alleged that Vyshnavi’s body was discovered on the top floor, while she was assigned a room on a different floor.
According to Venu, a suicide note recovered from the scene mentioned that the warden “knows everything”. He said his daughter had contacted him the previous day, reporting no distress and asking for money to celebrate a competition win.
Sandra’s parents, Sindhu and Ravi, also expressed concern, claiming their daughter frequently described the hostel as a jail and was desperate to return home.
The Sports Authority of India has not commented on the allegations. Kollam City Police have formed a six-member Special Investigation Team to probe the deaths. Statements from parents, hostel mates, and schoolmates have been recorded, while officials at the SAI facility will be questioned. KMS-8K
