Food poisoning case: Ramesh joined as watchman less than a month ago

He took up the job as we were struggling to get two meals a day, says his wife Kenchamma

Karnataka : Tumakuru 12/03/2017 Watchman, Ramesh's wife, Kenchamma along with her son, Lakkappa near the mortuary on the premises of Tumakuru district government hospital in Tumakuru on Sunday.

Ramesh, the watchman who died in the suspected case of food poisoning at Vidya Varidhi International School in Huliyar, Chikkanayakanahalli taluk, Tumakuru, had been employed with the school for less than a month and was yet to receive his first salary.

“My husband would have not died if he had not joined as the watchman in that school,” his wife Kenchamma said on Sunday. The family hails from Hosahalli in Chikkanayakanahalli taluk and stays in a house with mud walls, tiles and a roof that leaks during the rainy season.

Kenchamma is now worried on how to make ends meet.

“Before he took up this job, I was working as a labourer in a brick kiln at Hosahalli for ₹150 per day. We were struggling to get two meals a day, and that was when Ramesh decided to take up the job in the school,” she said.

Their daughter, who is studying in a government school at Hosahalli, will be appearing for the SSLC examination from March 30. Their son is in 5th standard.

Tahsildar Gangesh told

The Hindu that ₹5,000 will be given to the family for the funeral expenses, and Kenchamma will get widow’s pension. S.P. Muddahanumegowda, MP, who visited the mortuary, said the school authorities should pay a compensation.

“I will approach the State government to see if we can provide compensation to the family,” he said.

Forensic report expected

The police are under immense pressure to crack the case. They are waiting for forensic results, which they hope will help them determine the source of the alleged poisoning.

“The Forensic Science Laboratory report on chemical and biological analysis of the samples of food, blood and viscera is expected in the next 4 to 5 days,” said Superintendent of Police Isha Pant. The police are investigating to ascertain whether the food was deliberately poisoned. S.P. Muddahanumegowda, MP, said it was grave negligence on the part of three private hospitals to have denied treatment to the students and the security guard on the night of the incidence.

All accused released on bail

The president of Vidya Varidhi International School, former BJP MLA Kiran Kumar, and his wife, Kavitha Kiran Kumar, secretary of the school, were granted bail on Saturday night after they were produced before the JMFC court at Chikkanayakanahalli. The other four accused, who were arrested on March 9, — head cook Shivanna, assistant cook Rangalakshmi, mess in charge Suhas, and attender Jagadish — were granted bail on Friday.