Social Welfare Dept hostel warden suspended after students filmed abusing substance

HASSAN: The warden of a pre-matric students’ hostel at Bikkodu village in Belur taluk, run by the Social Welfare Department, was on Monday suspended for dereliction of duty after some of the minor inmates were found to be abusing drugs.

The warden, Chandrashekar, was placed under suspension by zilla panchayat executive officer Poornima based on a report filed by the deputy director of the Social Welfare Department. The warden of the Arehalli hostel has been given additional charge of the Bikkodu hostel.

The Bikkodu hostel has 38 students studying Classes 8, 9 and 10. Some of the hostellers were allegedly abusing drugs like ganja, consuming alcohol, smoking cigarettes and sniffing on whitener. Earlier too, the students had been caught for substance abuse.

When the warden had questioned them, one of the students had tried to attack him. Despite the warden trying to put some sense into them, the students have continued with substance abuse.

On Sunday, Belur Tahsildar Mamata visited the hostel after a video of went viral and had expressed displeasure with the working of the hostel authorities.