Police declare suicide, hours after child falls off school's rooftop

Victim was diabetic, says SHO, and committed suicide due to not being able to cope with the ailment


Our Correspondent October 08, 2018
Karachi Police. PHOTO: NNI/FILE

KARACHI: A student of grade seven fell to his death from the rooftop of his three-storey school building in Federal B Area on Monday. Hours after the incident, the police declared that the student, who was allegedly suffering from diabetes and bouts of epilepsy, committed suicide by intentionally jumping off the building.

Police claim to have based their conclusion on the basis of CCTV footage obtained from the school as well as the student's medical reports, which had been submitted to the school by the child's parents.

The police added, however, that action would be taken against the school administration if it was found to be negligent.

The victim, 11-year-old H*, fell from the third floor of the Metropolitan School in FB Area, located within the limits of Samanabad Police Station.

He was subsequently rushed to Ziauddin Hospital in North Nazimabad, where he succumbed to his injuries.

SHO Muhammad Iftikhar Ahmed told media personnel that the deceased was a Grade-7 student and was a resident of FB Area. He said that the student had reached the school premises sometime between 7:30 am and 7:45 am.

After leaving his schoolbag in the classroom, the student climbed to the third floor, from where he jumped off the building. The victim got entangled in electric wires, as a result of which both his arms were badly burnt.

When he fell to the ground, he sustained serious head injuries, which would ultimately prove fatal.

According to the SHO, police have obtained footage from the CCTV cameras installed at the school, which show the child falling off the rooftop, getting entangled in the power cables and then hitting the ground.

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The SHO added that the police had undertaken a comprehensive interrogation of the school's administration officials, besides inspecting the rooftop.

The height of the parapet, which stands at five-feet, suggests that the child could not have pushed from behind, said Ahmed. The SHO declared that the student was diabetic and had taken the "extreme measure" due to not being able to cope with the ailment.

Ahmed went on to say that the victim's parents had confirmed that the child was suffering from the disease and had even submitted a medical report at the school earlier, which was now in police possession.

The report confirms that the child was diabetic and would often fall unconscious in school.

According to the police, the cause of death, as per the investigations so far, has been determined to be suicide.

However, the police are investigating the reason behind the child's actions and said that legal action would be taken against the school administration if negligence was found on their part.

The SHO added that a case would be registered at the parents' behest, if they wished to do so.

He also declared that the student had come to school with the intention to commit suicide that day.

Later, the body was handed over to the parents, after they refused a post-mortem.

The school administration and the victim's parents refused to comment on the incident.

COMMENTS (3)

Misbah | 5 years ago | Reply Parents should also be interrogated. Sometimes pressure created by teachers and parents for studies push child for such actions. I remember during my school days that I had so much fear from one of my teachers that I always wanted to take a day off just as I dont want to face her. Secondly, when a child is reluctant to go to school, parent should look into the details as well as why he or she is not willing to attend class. Most of the time child is not able to compete with the other students and take such actions. May ALLAH bless our kids always.
Bunny Rabbit | 5 years ago | Reply Wow that was nice and easy and quick and competent on the part of the police . case closed eh ?
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