Alleging harassment, teacher attempts suicide

New Delhi, Sept 14 (UNI) Pertubed over continued ''harassment'' by school authorities, a 49-year-old school teacher attempted suicide by setting himself on fire in Sarai Rohilla area of North Delhi this morning.

Ashok Saini, working in a government senior secondary school in Sarai Rohilla, doused himself with kerosene in one of the vacant rooms of the school at about 1130 hrs, according to sources.

''He has been admitted to the RML Hospital with 90 per cent burns. His condition is critical,'' said his sister Santosh Saini, adding that presently he was under 48-hour observation.

Under treatment for depression for the last couple of months, Ashok, who lived in Shastri Nagar, had been issued a 'show cause' notice by the school for taking a day's leave and not informing school authorities, three days back.

''They even threatened to sack him despite him telling them that his phone was out of order and he could not go out to make a call,'' Santosh informed and added that this aggravated his depression leading him to take the extreme step.

UNI