Hostel locked: 40 kids left out in cold

Mysuru: Over 40 students of the Pre-Matric Hostel for Backward Classes of Manuganahalli in Saragur taluk of Mysuru district were forced to brave the cold at the main gate of the hostel building on Saturday night, as the authorities locked up the hostel, and went home on Saturday afternoon.
Upon receiving information, district backward classes officer GR Mahesh visited the hostel at the village on Sunday, and recommended the suspension of two persons attached to the hostel, on the charges of dereliction of duty.
A passersby who noticed the hostel inmates sitting outside and braving the cold, alerted the taluk backward classes officer.
Until the arrival of the officer, local residents arranged for bed sheets, and supplied bread, biscuits and drinking water to over 40 inmates of the hostel.
They took strong objection to the hostel authorities going home after locking up the hostel, which left the students stranded in a place, which is frequented by wild animals from the surrounding forested areas.
Manuganahalli villagers demand tough action
Residents of Manuganahalli demanded that the backward classes department initiate strict action against the authorities responsible for the lapse. Taluk backward classes officer, Shashikala, who rushed to the spot around 9 pm on Saturday, arranged food for the inmates, after taking the help of her department hostel’s cook from neighboring Madapura village.
“As soon as I received information about the issue of inmates from locals, I rushed to the hostel immediately, opened the building, and arranged food for inmates of the hostel, after taking the help of my department’s hostel’s cook and locals,” said Shashikala.