Man held for asking schoolgirl to mix cow dung in breakfast sambar in Erode

A 48-year-old man has been arrested in Erode district for allegedly instigating a schoolgirl to contaminate sambar prepared under the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme at a government middle school in Ramapailur, near Sathyamangalam.

The incident came to light on August 31 when teacher Revathi tasted the sambar to check its quality and found it bitter. She reported the matter to headmistress Kumudha, who subsequently lodged a complaint with the Sathyamangalam police on the advice of the Block Development Officer.

Investigations revealed that the cow dung powder had been mixed only with a small quantity of sambar kept separately for the teacher's tasting, and not with the portion served to the 51 students of the school.

Police said the accused, identified as Arumugam, allegedly gave ₹10 to a schoolgirl and asked her to buy cow dung powder from a nearby shop and mix it with the sambar meant for students. The girl spent ₹5 on a snack and used the remaining amount to purchase the powder, which she mixed into the sambar kept aside for the teacher.

The probe also found that Arumugam's wife, Alammal, had earlier worked as a cook at the school. She was reportedly replaced following complaints about the quality of cooking, which left Arumugam upset over the appointment of another cook.

Arumugam was arrested on Thursday night and produced before the Sathyamangalam Court, which remanded him in judicial custody.