Jalandhar: Class XII girl hangs herself at home

Jalandhar, August 30

A Class XII girl of a reputed CBSE-affiliated school in the city died by hanging herself from a ceiling fan at her house in Kot Bahadur Khan last evening.

Deceased Niharika was pursuing the commerce stream at Police DAV Public School. Her father Vipin Kumar said his daughter had been scared of attending school for the past some days but did not share her problem with anyone at home. He said he returned from work at 8 pm and asked for Niharika’s whereabouts when his wife pointed out that she was in her room which she had bolted from inside.

Last call was made by teacher

The last call received on my daughter's phone was of her teacher. Her phone also had some chats with a friend wherein she had expressed some apprehension over attending her teacher's call. She had even shared with her friend that she could take the extreme step. Vipin Kumar, father

It was for study purpose

Our teacher had calling up the girl as she was not coming to the school. She had attended the school for just 30 days so far. Her attendance in Class XI was also for only 51 days. Her teacher called up to tell her to attend classes as mid-term exams are near. Dr Rashmi Vij, Police DAV Public School

Kumar said he had to break open the door and he saw his daughter hanging from the ceiling fan with a dupatta. He said the last call received on her daughter’s phone was of her teacher. Her phone also had some chats with a friend wherein she had expressed some apprehension over attending her teacher’s call. She had even shared with her friend that she could take the extreme step.

The family has now alleged that the girl was being pestered by her teacher to pay up her school fee and was hence scared of taking her calls or attending the classes. Since this morning, the police had been trying to record the statements of the teacher and the parents.

Principal of Police DAV Public School Dr Rashmi Vij outrightly denied the allegations of the parents. “We too are in pain at the loss of our student, but blaming the school or a teacher for her death is completely uncalled for. We have all the records and minutes of the meeting wherein we had given her full fee concession. Her education expenses are being borne by my son, who is settled in the US. Her elder sister had also availed part fee waiver from our school after her mother had approached us, sharing financial problems at home”, she said.

She added, “Our teacher had been calling the girl as she was not coming to school since August 14. She had attended the school for just 30 days so far. Her attendance in Class XI was also for only 51 days. Her teacher was trying to call her to tell her to attend her classes and start to prepare well for the upcoming mid-term examination”.

The body of the deceased has been taken to the Civil Hospital for post-mortem. Police officials said they were still in process of taking statements and were yet to lodge an FIR.