A 52-year-old man, identified as Sathyan, alias chairman, was arrested by the Pathanapuram police on Tuesday for allegedly poisoning the noon-meal prepared for students and teachers of Saint Paul’s LP School at Chembanaruvi, near Pathanapuram. The timely detection of the mischief by a teacher of the school prevented a major tragedy.
Drug peddler
The police said that Sathyan was a known drug peddler of the area. As per preliminary investigations by the police, Sathyan allegedly poisoned the food to avenge a grama sabha meeting held at the school last week calling for strong action against him for peddling narcotic substances in the vicinity of the school. Chembanaruvi is a remote area of Kollam district bordered by forests.
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The teacher, Sajimol, who went to the kitchen and drank water felt uneasy. She complained about distaste in the water and soon experienced food poisoning symptoms. When she alerted others, they found the same distaste in the rice that was cooked. It was then that another teacher said that she had noticed Sathyan rushing out of the kitchen in the morning.
Samples collected
Following the development, the local member of the panchayat committee and other residents of the area joined hands and launched a search for Sathyan. When they reached his house, he tried to flee. They then chased and caught him after which he was handed over to the police. Health Department authorities from Piravanthur reached the school and took samples of cooked rice for chemical examination.
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About 75 students study at the school. They and their teachers have the noon-meal cooked at the school.
Major tragedy averted as teacher who felt distaste in water from school’s kitchen alerts others