Teenage Athlete Prithvi Poojary Suicide Case: Justice Delayed?

After eight years of a teenage athlete committing suicide, justice still remains a far cry for Prithvi Poojary. After postponing it from October 10, Judge CM Joshi of the Principal District and Sessions Court in Udupi might pronounce the verdict in the suicide case on Wednesday i.e. October 30.

Poojary, who was a second-year student of Brahmavar SMS College and a national-level javelin thrower, allegedly committed suicide inside her hostel room on September 27, 2011. She hung herself from the ceiling of her room when her roommates had gone out of the hostel. Just a few days before the 17-year-old committed suicide, she had gone to Mandya to participate in a divisional-level sports meet where she won a gold medal in Javeline and third prize in the high jump. After returning, she told her parents about it, who then distributed sweets in their neighbourhood to acknowledge her achievements.

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During probe, Police found her notebook in which she mentioned the name of a boy, Mizbhan - her senior in the college. She had written in that notebook that he had led her to take such an extreme step. Based on this statement, police booked Mizbhan under the charges of abetment to suicide. Further investigation revealed that Poojary spoke to Mizbhan in her last phone call.

The notebook revealed that she was connected to Mizbhan for the last one year which led to a breakup two months before her death. The evidence says that Mizbhan was trying to connect with Poojary again by constantly calling and messaging her which frustrated Poojary to the limit of killing herself. Police have examined a total of 25 witnesses during the investigation headed by IPS Officer Ram Niwas Sepat who was then ASP Puttur.

During Probe, Police found her notebook in which she mentioned the name of a boy, Mizbhan - her senior in the college. She had written in that notebook that he had led her to take such an extreme step.

Adopted by the Brahmavar Sports Club, Poojary was a promising sportsperson, who despite limited means strove hard to excel in her game. “As a student at Sanjay Gandhi High School, she was very good in the javelin throw. She used regular sticks for practice instead of javelin due to its non-availability. She was very much interested in the sport and her throw was excellent,” recollected advocate Ravikiran Murudeshwar.

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After she finished her Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC), she received two offers to pursue Pre-University Course (PUC) from Alva's College in Moodbidri. During this time, Brahmavar Sports Club offered to sponsor her and she took admission in SMS College in Brahmhavar and stayed in the college hostel. In all, the hostel had 22 inmates including her relative Divya Poojary, who was also an athlete. She stayed with Prithvi in her room.

Police have also examined 27 documents in this matter in which the Public prosecutor is Shanti Bai.

Picture credit: Daiji World