Kannur: The death of a 26-year-old cadet at the Indian Naval Academy in Kerala's Ezhimala near here has caused raised eyebrows, with the family alleging 'foul play'.
The deceased was identified as Gudeppa Sooraj, a Tirur native. He reportedly fell off a building inside the academy.
The relatives of the deceased said the authorities at INA had been torturing the cadet, physically and mentally.
However, INA officials said he was found 'unconscious and unresponsive' on the floor of the INA's academic wing by a duty sailor-instructor at 5.30 pm on Wednesday.
Sooraj was immediately rushed to the ICU of Indian Naval Hospital 'Navjivani' and administered IV Fluid resuscitation, a release issued by the INA PRO said.
Later, he was shifted to the Pariyaram Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) in Kannur district. A medical specialist and medical assistants accompanied him, the release said.
The cadet developed two episodes of cardiac arrest at PMCH and all efforts to revive him failed and he was declared dead at 2.30 am Thursday, the release said.
The next of kin had been informed and an inquiry ordered by the Southern Naval Command into the incident, it added.
"At present, the inquest is being prepared and soon the body will be taken for a post-mortem and then handed over to the family," an INA official said.
A port-mortem will be conducted at PMCH.
Sooraj started off his career in the Indian Navy as a sailor in 2010. In 2013, he appeared for the officers' test and joined the INA. The relatives alleged that the officers at the academy did not like him because of this.
"From then on there was constant friction between Sooraj and the INA officials," his family said.
In 2015, he was terminated by the INA, following which he approached the Armed Forces Tribunal which asked the INA to reinstate him. In January he rejoined the INA as an officer cadet.
Sooraj's family in a statement has alleged that relation between Sooraj and the INA officials was not good, the Payanur Police said.
The family has alleged that Sooraj's death "did not occur under normal circumstances", they said. The police have begun a probe into the entire episode.