Class topper found in school loo smothered, wrist slashed; dies

Class topper found in school loo smothered, wrist slashed; dies

Kolkata: A Class X topper of a prominent south Kolkata school was found unconscious, a plastic carry bag over her head and bleeding from her left wrist in the school washroom on Friday afternoon, and died on the way to the hospital. Krittika Paul, police officials said, left behind a three-page suicide note, which hinted at “mounting academic pressure” leading to depression. Cops have registered a case of unnatural death and are probing the circumstances that led to it. After a preliminary probe, police said Krittika was “particularly worried” about the outcome of an entrance exam. Forensic experts said she “probably smothered herself to death” as the injury on her left wrist did not cause enough bleeding to be fatal. Police said she had some self-inflicted marks on her left wrist. A polythene bag, three pieces of blade from sharpeners and a pen were found in the washroom. “The first responders found a plastic bag covering her entire face and bloodstained blades next to her. By the time she was taken to a hospital, she was dead,” a senior officer at Lalbazar said. A senior official of the school said Krittika had sought permission from the teacher to go to the washroom during the sixth period. “When she didn’t return for some time, the teacher went to the washroom and found one of the stall doors locked,” said the official of GD Birla Centre for Education at Ranikuthi in Tollygunge. When
covered in a plastic bag. She climbed in and opened the door. We stretchered her out of the school and rushed to the hospital where she was declared dead,” the school official said. The vice-principal, who found the three-page note on the washroom floor, later handed it over to the police. The police have collected CCTV footage from the school. “The footage shows the entire time line — when the girl leaves the class and enters the washroom. We are awaiting the autopsy report and are questioning other teachers to find out what exactly had led to the death,” an officer said. Forensic officials later collected samples from the washroom. “We have sent the note found beside her body for examination to find out if it was written by her. Its contents indicate she was in some sort of mental pressure. We spoke to the girl’s mother and she said the girl was extremely worried about an entrance exam to a statistical institute. The girl also mentioned in the note that she was worried that her preparations weren’t up to the mark,” said Murlidhar, the acting joint commissioner of police. The manner of Krittika’s death left classmates, teachers and neighbours in shock. “She had stood third in the Class VIII annual exam, but the next year she ranked first. Her mother was so happy that she distributed sweets in the entire locality. We can’t believe she died such a horrific death,” said Rathin Sengupta, a neighbour from Baisnabghata where the Paul family resides. Krittika was the only child of software engineer Sudipta and his wife Taniya. Sudipta was in Hyderabad on an office assignment at the time of the incident. Taniya had quit her job to become a homemaker after Krittika’s birth to ensure she received her attention during the crucial years. “The child meant everything to the couple. Their entire life revolved around Krittika. They were a happy family and I have no clue why such a bright, intelligent and jovial girl would kill herself, that too in school. The cops should probe thoroughly to findKrittika’s teacher found one of the stalls in the washroom locked, she called in other teachers. “One of them climbed up to peep through the gap between the washroom wall and ceiling and found her seated on the floor, blood oozing out and face
out what happened,” said Abhijit Das, a family friend. “Taniya has completely broken down and we don’t have words to console her. We initially hadn’t told Sudipta about the death, but then he called me and insisted on knowing what had happened. I had to tell him the truth and he disconnected the call,” said another family friend, waiting outside the hospital. Friends and family members who had gathered at the hospital said the Pauls used to live in Baruipur and had shifted to the Baisnabghata Bylane flat a few years ago so that their daughter did not have to travel a long distance to school and back