Death in Mangalore pool: parents suspect foul play

Father says Sohan mentioned about threats to his life. Two of the classmates Sohan named were in pool that day, says father

Father of 13-year-old H.S. Sohan, who drowned in Mangalore City Corporation’s swimming pool on October 25, suspects foul play in the death.

In a memorandum submitted at the office of the Police Commissioner on Monday, H.D. Somashekar has expressed suspicion of foul play by friends of the boy. He said three days before the incident his son woke up terrified and mentioned about the threats to his life from his four classmates. On the day his son drowned two of them were in the swimming pool, he said.

Blood clot marks

Mr. Somashekar said when he went to the hospital on October 25 evening he saw blood clot marks below his son’s eyelids. This, he said, was an indication that Sohan had been murdered in the pool. Sohan, he said, was good in swimming and also in academics. Four of his classmates were not happy with his son’s achievements. Demanding questioning of eye-witnesses, he said his son’s drowning should not be considered as accidental death but as a murder. Mr. Somashekar was accompanied by his relative Yeshwant Mendon and politician M.G. Hegde.

Police Commissioner Manish Kharbikar said he would inquire into the alleged foul play into the death of Sohan. Mr. Kharbikar said they were waiting for the report of autopsy, which will take a few more weeks as viscera needs to be examined by the Forensic Science Laboratory.