Accused of stealing cash, girl ends life

There has been another tragic death of a student in the capital. This time, it is a case of suicide. Zeenat Khan, a Class VIII student of Sarvodya School in Sangam Vihar could not bear the humiliation of being branded as a thief by her classmate Monica.

There has been another tragic death of a student in the capital. This time, it is a case of suicide. Zeenat Khan, a Class VIII student of Sarvodya School in Sangam Vihar could not bear the humiliation of being branded as a thief by her classmate Monica. On Saturday she took her mother’s stole and allegedly hung herself from the ceiling fan.

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Zeenat lived with her parents and six siblings in Sangam Vihar’s J-2 block. Her father, Zahid Khan, works in a nearby factory. The police said Monica alleged during lunch break that Zeenat had stolen Rs 120 from her school bag.

“When Monica discovered her money was missing, she raised an alarm and complained to her class teacher. Monica told her teacher that she suspected Zeenat of stealing the money. Her teacher called Zeenat and searched her. The stolen Rs. 120 was found in her pocket,” a senior police officer said. Police said the teacher sent Zeenat home, after instructing her to bring her mother to school the next day.

“Amina, her mother, scolded her. The next day the teacher reportedly told Amina to mend her daughter’s ways or the school would expel her. The teacher also instructed Amina not to send Zeenat to school for the next two-three days,” a police officer said.

The father of the deceased, Zahid Khan, alleged Zeenat’s teacher had slapped and scolded her. “My daughter was insulted by the class teacher. She was slapped and scolded in front of the entire class. When my wife accompanied Zeenat to school, the teacher also handed us a slip and said she was being suspended from the school. My daughter became very depressed after this,” he said.

Chandrabhushan Kumar, the Director of Education, said, “The Additional Director Education is heading an enquiry to find the truth. We are also awaiting the police inquest report. Whether she was suspended or not will be known out after the enquiry.”