False accuser or falsely accused?: Girl attempts suicide over ‘harsh treatment’ by principal

College head found her guilty of sending him an anonymous letter defaming two other students

RAWALPINDI: A young girl attempted suicide by self immolation at her college in Dina, Jhelum after claiming she was mistreated by her principal, The Express Tribune has learnt.

RA, a second-year student at Fatima Jinnah Women College, Dina, set herself alight on at the college on March 7, a Jhelum police officer said.

The college head had previously received an anonymous letter defaming two other students. The two students then told the principal that RA had written the letter. The principal lodged an inquiry and established that it was penned by RA, and admonished her for doing so. RA denied the charges and objected to the accusation.

The police officer, requesting anonymity, said RA was not happy with the response of the principal after the two students complained against her.

The officer said that the girl brought kerosene oil from her house and set herself on fire on campus. The college administration extinguished the fire and shifted her to District Headquarters Hospital, Jhelum.

Doctors said that the girl suffered 80 to 85 per cent burns.

Later, the girl’s family shifted her to Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi, where she is stated to be in critical condition.

Shoaib, the girl’s older brother, said that his sister was very disturbed over allegations levelled by the college principal.

When asked if they had filed a complaint with police, he said that they were busy with RA’s treatment and had not filed a complaint so far.

Jhelum District Police Officer Mujahid Akbar said the Dina police had noted the incident in their daily diary, while adding that an investigation would be initiated after the family of the girl filed a complaint, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 11^th, 2016.