Police in New Dehli, India, are investigating a suicide pact between four young teenage athletes. One of the athletes, a 15-year-old girl, died as a result of the suicide pact and three other young girls are in critical condition after their attempted suicides.
All four girls were members of a sports institute that is run by the state. Each of the young girls attempted suicide by eating a local poisonous fruit. Officials from the Sports Authority of India are investigating the suicide pact as well as the coaches and staff that are suspected of driving the girls to commit suicide.
According to Reuters , all four of the teenage athletes consumed the othalanga fruit, a local fruit known for its toxins. Authorities revealed that a suicide pact was left behind with the signatures of all four girls, signifying that they agreed to eat the toxic fruit as part of the pact. Authorities have not revealed the full contents of the note but are confident that they all agreed to the suicide pact.
All four girls were found in their hostel room on Wednesday, each unconscious at the time, and were promptly taken to the local hospital. One of the girls died from the toxic fruit and the other three are currently in critical condition. It us unknown if the other three will survive the toxins.
The Times of India reports that the suicide note revealed that each of the four girls was ridiculed and humiliated by older students as well as members of the staff. The girls decided to sign the suicide pact as a result of ‘mental agony’ at the hands of the individuals that were supposed to support and groom them to be better athletes.
The mother of one of the girls shared that the humiliation was an ongoing issue with the four girls and that the staff should have addressed the issue.
“She last came home during Vishu celebrations (mid-April) and she told us about a senior student who constantly harassed her and her friends. She was also not happy with her coach and other staff. However, on Wednesday morning, she telephoned us and there was nothing unusual in her talk,. We need a thorough inquiry into the incident and action should be taken against those responsible for the death of our daughter.”
Sarbananda Sonowal, the Minister of State for Youth Affairs, is upset at the situation and reassured that the law will not excuse anyone that is involved in coercing the suicide pact.
“Law will take its own course, but I assure you that if anybody from Sports Authority of India is found to be guilty in this connection, we will be taking strictest possible action against her or him,”
[Photo Courtesy: Zee News India ]
