Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur

Kundapur, Jul 11: A lady who runs the canteen at Moodlakatte Institute of Technology allegedly attempted suicide here on Friday July 11, after the College management reportedly harassed her over payment of pending dues.

Janaki from Suratkal, who manages the canteen at the institute, in protest against the college for not paying her the dues, not only consumed sleeping pills but also locked herself up in the bathroom and attempted suicide.

Moodlakatte Institute of Technology has about 300 students. The campus includes hostel facilities. Janaki has been running the canteen in the campus for the past one year. The College had been paying Rs 4.60 lac every month to run the canteen, in order to provide to all the students and staff.

However, last month, Janaki received only half the amount in the bill, while the rest, totalling Rs 2.3 lac, was pending. Janaki is said to have approached the management, but she was sent back every time empty-handed. Moreover, towards the end of June, the College reportedly told Janaki that it was cancelling her contract. The College, on the other hand, said that Rs 2.3 lac was withheld on the basis of complaints received from shopkeepers that supplied groceries.

On Friday, Janaki arrived at the College with her daughter and asked for the pending dues again. It is learnt that Janaki, to run the canteen, had bought groceries worth around Rs 6 lac on credit and the shopkeepers had filed complaints against her for non-payment of money, as the College had not cleared the bills.

Frustrated with the developments, Janaki reportedly consumed sleeping tablets and attempted suicide by locking herself in the bathroom. She refused to come out despite pleas from College officials. Finally, Kundapur ASI Sudha Prabhu and other policewomen managed to rescue her and got her admitted to government hospital.

A case has been registered in Kundapur police station.