A student of a school in Kolkata was found in a toilet with her wrist slashed and a plastic bag over her head. The girl was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead. It is suspected to be a case of suicide according to the police. The investigation is ongoing with the questioning of teachers and staff and the examination of CCTV footage. The girl’s friends reveal she had left the class around 1:30 pm and did not return for long. She was later found in the washroom. Her classmate reported: “We are deeply shocked. She was a topper and a very bright student. We saw her in the morning, she seemed fine. We do not know how this happened as our school is alert at all times. A help (maasi) is always there inside the toilet, wonder why she didn’t notice when she kept herself locked inside for so long.”

The police reported that a blade, a plastic bag and a three page long handwritten note were recovered from the girl’s body. The handwriting is being examined by an expert to ascertain that it belongs to the victim. Joint Commissioner of Kolkata Police, Murlidhar Sharma said: “The note read that she was preparing to get through the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI)… It said that she couldn’t sleep for three months. An autopsy will be conducted tomorrow. CCTV footage has been collected. We are examining statements from other students and teachers.”

If you or your loved ones feel emotionally distressed, do not hesitate to reach out for help.

Sneha Suicide Prevention Helpline – 044 -24640050 (24 hours), Sneha Foundation Trust

11, Park View Road, R. A. Puram, Chennai – 600028

e-mail: help@snehaindia.org

Health Helpline – 104 (24 hours)

iCall Psychosocial Helpline – 022-25521111 ( Mon – Sat, 8am – 10pm)