14-year-old schoolgirl commits suicide after scolding from HM

Kumbakonam, Feb 13 (PTI) A 14-year-old schoolgirl setherself ablaze after allegedly being scolded and accused oftheft by her headmistress at Melathukurichi area near here,police said today.

Surya, an eighth standard student at Union Middle School,Neelathanallur, was asked yesterday by Vijayalakshmi, theheadmistress, to keep her handbag in her two-wheeler, policesaid.

When Surya attempted to hang the bag on the vehicle, Rs500 fell out from it and she put it back in, police said.

Suspecting Surya of trying to steal money, Vijayalakshmiscolded her, they added.

Following the incident, Surya attempted to commit suicideby setting herself ablaze with kerosene. She died today. The14-year-old stated in her dying declaration that the reasonbehind her suicide attempt was the scolding given by herheadmistress, police said.

Vijayalakshmi is being questioned over the incident. Acase has been booked against her under sections 506[1](criminal intimidation), which was altered to 306 IPC(abetment to suicide) after Surya''s death, police said. PTICOR ARP