LAHORE: An 11-year-old boy, who was admonished by his teacher, allegedly attempted suicide by setting himself ablaze outside a private school in Gulshan-i-Iqbal, police said on Monday.

Asif, son of Amjad, a resident of Fruit Mandi, Iqbal Town, resorted to the extreme step after his teacher admonished him for getting low marks in a test, police added.

According to initial police inquiry, Asif, after being admonished, was telling his classmate that he wanted to break school computer for taking low marks, his teacher Khwaja Anas, overhearing Asif, asked him why he did not set himself on fire, instead of damaging the school property.

After hearing the teacher’s remarks, Asif went out of the classroom, sprinkled

petrol on his body and allegedly set him on fire. He was taken to the Mayo Hospital where his condition was said to be critical.

However, Asif, in his statement, alleged that his teacher Khwaja Anas had set him on fire for taking low marks in the test.

Iqbal Town Circle DSP Shabbir Ahmed told Dawn the teacher had been taken into custody and police were looking into the matter. He said initial inquiries showed that boy had set himself on fire when the teacher admonished him.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2015

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