Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Apr 16: A youth from Kannur, Kerala, who was reportedly struck at Kollur due to lockdown clamped in the nation, was rescued and sent back to his hometown on Tuesday April 1.

Additional deputy commissioner Sadashiva Prabhu, said that on the basis of fax message received by the administration, the youngster was traced and sent back to his hometown with the support of the district administration and the police.

Sachit (21) from Kannur had come here about three weeks back to pay obeisance to Goddess Mookambika temple at Kollur. After lockdown was announced suddenly, he had sought help from Kerala government. Kannur MP K Sudhakaran, had thereafter contacted Dakshina Kannada youth Congress president Mithun Rai, seeking his help in getting the youth back. On the basis of information given by him, Sudhakaran approached Udupi district administration. Kollur assistant sub-inspector Janardhan, brought the youth till Hejamady check post. From there, he was picked by an ambulance arranged by Mithun Rai and dropped off at Talapady, where a vehicle arranged by Sudhakaran was waiting to pick the youth.

Some locals said that the youth had come to Kollur five to six months back and was being fed by Malayali families living in Kollur. He was advised to go back home but he had not taken the advice seriously. Later, he contacted helpline of Kerala and raised a hue and cry at having been stranded here, they say. Even when the police had warned him to go back, he had said he wanted to meditate here. He used to spend time on the banks of River Sauparnika but he never created trouble for anyone. He used to stay near the toilet at the temple since the last over two weeks. The police said he appeared to be mentally unstable.