VELLORE: Mystery shrouded the death of a 11-year-old student, Harini, of the Government Girls Higher Secondary School, who allegedly committed suicide by immolating herself on the premises of the school in Pernambut, on Monday.
The incident sent shock waves among the locals, teachers and students. Harini, daughter of Kannabiran and Manjula, a student of class VI, was under the care of her grandmother Krishnaveni (65) and stepmother Chithra, who was pregnant. Kannabiran, a painter, had married Chithra after Manjula’s demise eight years ago.
Coming to school after three days of leave, Harini ended her life by setting herself ablaze in the school toilet, it was reported.
“The girl came to school around 9 am. She kept her bags in her classroom and went to the toilet. None saw her carrying anything suspicious,” said a police official quoting the students and teachers.
Within a few minutes, the other students heard Harini screaming for help and rushed to the toilet.
She was found with burns and the students alerted the teachers, who in turn rushed her to the Government Hospital at Gudiyattam in an auto. She, however, succumbed to burns in the hospital. “The girl brought kerosene in a soft drink bottle,” said police.
The preliminary inquiry into the case revealed that she had no problem in the school. “She was good in academics and wasn’t facing any problem at her home as well,” said a police officer investigating the case.
Police suspect that she would have taken the extreme step unable to withstand the death of her 21-year-old cousin Lokeswari, a nursing college student. Lokeswari had committed suicide a week ago.