A 16-year-old girl from Thiruvalla, in Pathanamthitta district, committed suicide by setting herself on fire, on Monday morning.
The deceased has been identified as Abirami Aji, a Class 10 student in Nicolson Syrian Central School. Officials said they recovered a suicide note from the girl’s room and suspect that academic pressure may have been the reason behind her taking her own life.
The incident occurred at around 10.00 am on Monday morning.
“Abirami went to school and learnt that it was shut due to an Akhil Bharatiya Vishwa Parishad strike. She came back home on learning this news. Later, she got a call from school telling her that special classes had been arranged,” an official said.
“Her mother and brother were both at home at that time. She reportedly told them that she was going back to school, but went to her room and set herself on fire,” he added.
Initially, the police assumed a short circuit was the reason behind her death, but further investigation revealed traces of kerosene near her body.
“We also recovered a suicide note written by the deceased. She had left it in her brother’s school bag,” the official said.
Media reports claimed that Abirami’s letter said she committed suicide due to the high pressure on her to perform well academically and the repeated scolding she had to endure from her parents.
TNM tried reaching out to the principal of the school, but could not get through to her.
Abirami is survived by her father Aji, her mother Sudha and her brother Abhijith, who is 12 years old. Her father is a head load worker, while her mother is a homemaker.
An FIR has been filed in the Thiruvalla police station under section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Officials said the investigation is still on.
Suicides can be prevented by seeking help at the right time. Here is a list of suicide helplines in Kerala:
Thanal – 0495 237 1100
E-mail – thanal.calicut@gmail.com
Address – Iqra Hospital
Malamparamba
Calicut 673009
Kerala
Prathyasa – +91-480 – 2820091
Address – Vidya Jothi
Cathedral Junction
Irinjalakuda 680 685
Pratheeksha – +91 484 2448830
E-mail – rajiravi2000@hotmail.com
Address – Near Ambedkar Park
Peruvaram Road
North Paravur 683 513
Kerala
Maithri – 91- 484 – 2540530
E-mail – maithrihelp@gmail.com
Address – ICTA Shantigram
Changampuzha Nagar (P.O.)
Kalamassery
Kochi 682 033