Chided for poor Tamil, 10-yr-old kills self

According to police, the incident happened at Tiruvallore on Friday last. Antony Pratheesh, a Class V student in a government school in the town, took the extreme step after being scolded by a teacher. The teacher had allegedly threatened to demote him to Class IV if he continued with his poor show.

After returning from school, the boy narrated the incident to his mother. And when she was not at home, he set himself ablaze after pouring kerosene, Tiruvallore SP M C Sarangan said.

Neighbours rushed the boy to Kilpauk Medical College Hospital in Chennai with 80 per cent burns. He died later. The teacher had been arrested following a complaint from Pratheesh’s mother.