Class 12 student found dead in a burnt condition inside East Delhi school

A 17-year-old girl studying in Class 12 was found dead in a burnt condition behind the guard room of a government school in East Delhi on Saturday. A purported suicide note recovered from her school bag allegedly referred to a relationship with a boy and contained an apology to her parents for not being able to live up to their expectations.

Police said they are examining the note to verify its authenticity. The student hailed from Bihar and lived with her family. Police received a PCR call regarding the incident, following which personnel rushed to the spot.

“The girl was found in a burnt condition behind the school guard room. The crime team was subsequently called to inspect the scene and collect evidence. Certain materials were recovered from the spot and from the student’s school bag,” said DCP (Shahdara) R P Meena.

A call was received by fire officers at 11.58 am reporting that a student had allegedly set herself on fire inside the school. A fire tender was dispatched to the location, but the girl had already sustained severe burns by the time the team arrived, said officers.

People present at the school said the girl's behaviour and appearance had seemed normal earlier in the day. A woman who had come to drop her child at the school said she had seen her smiling as she entered the premises. According to some, the student was seen with a water bottle around 11.30 am.

The student's sister said the family received a call about the incident at 12.40 pm. "I had come to drop her at the school and she was looking normal. I don't know what happened when she took this step," she said, adding that the girl's face was severely burnt.

The girl's sister-in-law, who reached the school, said the student had left home as usual and had not told the family anything that suggested she was distressed or planning to harm herself. Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood visited the school following the incident.

He sought details from the school management and police officers, interacted with local residents and sought to know about the investigation and the evidence collected. “The tragic death of a 17-year-old student at a school… is deeply distressing and a matter of serious concern.

We are all saddened by this heartbreaking incident. Delhi Police is investigating the matter seriously, and the school management has handed over all available evidence to the police,” he said. “Our priority is to ensure a fair and thorough investigation so that all facts related to the incident come to light,” he said, adding that necessary action would be taken in accordance with the law based on the findings.

Investigators said they are examining the sequence of events leading up to the incident, including the materials recovered from the scene and the student’s belongings. It is not yet clear what substance, if any, was involved in the incident, they added.