SGPC orders probe into suicide by national-level handball player

The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) on Sunday ordered a probe into the suicide of a national-level handball player after she was allegedly denied hostel facility by authorities of a SGPC-run college in Patiala city, 80 km from here.

The victim, Pooja Kumari, 20, wrote her suicide note in blood addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help her family. She pointed out that she was taking the extreme step as she could not afford to spend Rs 3,270 every month to reach the college as she belonged to a poor family.

The Punjab Police have booked the physical education department head of the college, Gursharan Singh Gill, for abetment to suicide. Gill is on the run. Pooja had pointed out that Gill used to harass a few players.

Pooja was a BA second year student at the Khalsa College, managed by SGPC, in Patiala. She committed suicide on Saturday by hanging herself at her home.

Her suicide took place just hours after the country was rejoicing the Olympic medals of women players, badminton champion P.V. Sindhu and wrestler Sakshi Malik.

Pooja, in her suicide note, pointed out that she was denied admission to the college under the sports quota, which would have made her eligible for a free hostel facility.

The SGPC on Sunday set up a five-member committee, headed by the Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University, Fatehgarh Sahib, vice chancellor Gurmohan Singh Walia.

Pooja's father is a street vendor in Patiala.

--IANS

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