Police question Naval officials over cadet's death

Kannur: Police on Saturday questioned officials at the Ezhimala Naval Academy in Kerala in connection with the death of a 26-year-old cadet whose family has alleged foul play by its staff.

Police had recovered a purported suicide note from the uniform worn by the cadet Gudeppa Sooraj, who allegedly jumped from the second floor of the INA's academic wing on May 17, in which he named some officials who allegedly harassed him.

"We went to the academy and questioned the officials there. We also went to the spot where the cadet had fallen," police officials investigating the case told PTI.

Sooraj was found in an unconscious state and was rushed to Pariyaram medical college hospital, where he died the next day. The Navy had said he died of cardiac arrest.

Police said they are verifying if the note was actually written by him. "We cannot treat is at exclusive evidence. Investigations are going on," police sources said.
The cadet's family has alleged that he was killed by the academy officials who "tortured, humiliated and harassed" him.

The cadet's brother Sanoj alleged that his brother was "hit with hockey sticks and his bones were broken in the name of discipline". He said that Sooraj would never commit suicide.

Based on their complaint, police had registered a case under Section 174 Crpc (unnatural death).

Naval sources have maintained that the allegations are 'baseless' and that the Navy had nothing to hide. The Navy has also constituted a board of enquiry.