A 17-year-old girl attempted suicide by immolating herself in Moovattupuzha of Ernakulam district after the principal of her school allegedly abused her over a note found in her bag. The girl student was admitted to the Kottayam Medical College hospital on Tuesday with 80% burn injuries.

The student’s father told journalists that the principal had abused her using obscene language while questioning the student over the note on Saturday.

“Before the exam, teachers checked the bags of all students to see if they had brought mobile phones. That is how they got some paper from her bag, and the principal called her to the office. The principal told my daughter, ‘It is better to die than live like a prostitute like you’. She was very depressed over these bad words,” he alleged.

The contents of the confiscated note have not been made public.

The father said that his daughter used to write short stories, poems and literary pieces in small pieces of papers regularly.

“If someone shares some life experiences with her, she immediately writes it down in a piece of paper. Whatever story, words or experiences strike her, she will write it down. She keeps those pieces of paper with her. She has even published poems in her school magazine,” her father said.

The girl has recorded a statement with the Ettumanoor Majistrate.

Muvattupuzha Inspector, Jayakumar, told The News Minute that the girl’s statement has been recorded and that action will be taken after investigations are carried out.

“There was some issue at her school. We can say who is responsible only after proper interrogation,” he said.