Patna: A 10-year-old girl died after being set alight in a school bathroom in Patna, prompting angry protests by family members and locals who clashed with police on Thursday.
The incident took place on Wednesday at Amla Tola Kanya Vidyalaya in the Gardanibagh area, where the girl, a fifth standard student, was found with severe burn injuries inside a toilet. She later succumbed to her injuries. A bottle filled with kerosene was reportedly recovered from the scene.
On Thursday, the victim’s family and supporters blocked a major road at Chitkohra Golambar, halting traffic and shouting slogans. Police were pelted with stones during the protest, leaving a havildar, Ranjit Kumar, injured. Officers were later forced to retreat.
The girl’s mother accused school staff of burning her daughter to death, saying the child had earlier confided that teachers had threatened students. “This is the mischief of the school teachers. They have burnt my daughter to death. She told me before that someone had poured kerosene on her,” she told local reporters.
The girl’s sister also claimed that her sibling had raised concerns about a teacher allegedly harassing students. “A week ago, she told me about a teacher misbehaving with a girl and threatening to expel anyone who spoke up,” she said.
Eyewitnesses said the girl was alive but unconscious when pulled out of the bathroom. According to police, two possibilities are being examined: suicide or murder.
School staff suggested that the girl may have smuggled kerosene into the premises in a water bottle, set herself on fire in the bathroom, and collapsed while attempting to leave. The family, however, rejected this version, insisting she was targeted to silence her.
