Alapuzha (Kerala): Sports Authority of India Director General Injeti Srinivas on Friday gave a solatium of Rs 5 lakh to the family of rowing athlete Aparna, who died after consuming poison fruit along with three other colleagues, alleging harassment from seniors.
The SAI Director General, who visited the grieving parents of the athlete also offered job to a family member. Those undergoing treatment at the hospital, whose condition is said to be stable, were given Rs 25,000 each and also ensured the best possible medical help.
One of the senior girls, against whom allegations of harassment were made by the family members of the deceased rower, denied before television channels that they had done anything wrong.
"We do not know why such allegations have been made," she said, adding she herself had taken the girls in an autorickshaw to the hospital after one of them complained of uneasiness at the hostel on Wednesday night.
While Aparna died early on Thursday, the three others are undergoing treatment at the Alapuzha medical college hospital here.
Srinivas was directed by Sports Ministry to rush here for an on-the-spot assessment in the wake of the tragic incident.
Meanwhile, Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala also visited the family of Aparna. They also handed over a detailed complaint with regards to the mental and physical harassment meted out to the girls by two senior girls and coach.
Chennithala later told reporters that ASP Merin Joseph will also be part of the SIT, which is probing the case.
After the incident, now SAI centres in Kerala are temporarily closed. Students will return after a week.
