Udupi SSLC student ends life fearing exams

Mangaluru/Udupi: Police who were investigating the suicide of a teenager at Pre-Metric Boys’ Hostel in Kooradi, Brahmavara Taluk, Udupi district, have concluded that the student ended his life as he was anxious about taking the SSLC examinations.
Meanwhile, in the same hostel, run by the social welfare department, another student and inmate, Mahesh, 17, a resident of Vijayapura, had gone missing and was found at Barkur railway station on Saturday night, according to police.

The case of the missing student and the suicide took place on Thursday in Udupi district, which tops in SSLC examination results in the state. Victim Mallesh,17, a resident of Koppal, hanged himself as he was scared to face the upcoming SSLC examinations, said sources.

According to sources, Mallesh and Mahesh had planned to give up studies as they couldn’t cope with it. They had decided run away from the hostel. In order to get out of the hostel, victim Mallesh made an excuse that he was not well and needed to go to a nearby chemist to fetch medicine. However, the warden sent another inmate instead of Mallesh. The victim was upset over this, as there was no chance for him to get out of the hostel. He later hanged himself from a tree, which is close to the hostel, on Thursday evening.

Raghavendra C, sub-inspector, Brahmavara police station, said Mahesh was found near Barkur railway station on Saturday. After running away from the hostel, he went to Hubbali, and roamed there for a few days, after which he returned to Udupi. “As per the legal procedure, we have called Mahesh’s parents. We will act after he makes his statement,” said Raghavendra, adding that Mahesh has expressed that he is not interested in academics.