A 15-year-old boy killed himself allegedly after being accused of theft by a resident of his own village in Uttar Pradesh’s Raebareli district.
According to reports, Virendra Kumar, a resident of Hasanpur village, set himself ablaze at his home on Wednesday.
The boy, suffered third degree burns and was rushed to hospital but could not be saved. He died at night.
Plough stolen
Police sources said a shopkeeper in the village accused Virendra of stealing a plough that was kept outside his shop on Tuesday. He alleged that Virendra had stolen it while he was away. But Virendra vehemently denied the allegation.
The shopkeeper, Chedilal again rebuked him on Wednesday and threatened to expose him in the village.
He also allegedly asked him to return the plough or else Virendra would be punished and might even go to jail.
Virendra kept pleading that he had not stolen the plow but the shopkeeper insisted that he was the culprit.
The teen was, however, allowed to go after some villagers intervened, sources said.
Humiliated
“He looked hurt and crestfallen,” said locals. But they too had no idea that he would take such an extreme step.
Feeling hurt and humiliated, Virendra came back home and poured kerosene on himself, and then set himself on fire.
Family members rushed to him after hearing his cries and doused the flames.
But by then the teen had sustained serious burns. He was rushed to a nearby health centre where he succumbed to his injuries.
A case of abetment to suicide has been registered against the shopkeeper, who is absconding, police said.