Girl dying after eating shawarma; HC takes suo motu case, seeks govt’s explanation

KASARGOD: The Kerala High Court has taken a suo motu case in connection with the incident of a girl dying after eating shawarma in Cheruvathur. The court directed the government to inform their stand.

The division bench of the high court decided to file a suo motu case based on media reports. The court also said that action should be taken to ensure cleanliness. The government said further action would be taken immediately.

The manager of the Coolbar shop where the student ate shawarma was arrested the other day. Ahmed, a native of Kasargod and third accused in the case, was arrested. He was absconding after the girl died of food poisoning. With this, the number of people arrested in the case has risen to three. The police had said that they were planning to issue a look-out notice for Kunhammad, a native of Kalikkadavu, the owner of the coolbar who is in Dubai.

Devananda (16), the only daughter of late Narayanan and E V Prasanna, a native of Mundacheeta in Karivellur Peralam panchayat, died of food poisoning. The girl ate shawarma on Saturday. She was later admitted to V V Memorial Hospital in Cheruvathur with fever and diarrhoea and later shifted to the Kanhangad District Hospital. She died within hours of arriving here. Thirty-one people who developed uneasiness after consuming shawarma from the Coolbar are being treated at various hospitals.