Upset over a fight with his sister, a 11-year-old boy committed suicide by immolation at his house in Ayanavaram.
Ayanavaram police identified the deceased as Rajesh Ramu, a student of class VI at a private school in Ayanavaram. He lived in a thatched hut on Mettu Street along with his eight-year-old sister and parents Ramu and Kala, who are both construction workers.
Rajesh was scheduled to go on a pilgrimage to Sabarimala and therefore, offered prayers everyday. Around 5.30 p.m., he had an argument with his sister after she refused to clean lamps and other items for the pooja. He assaulted her and she reciprocated. When Rajesh chased her in an attempt to beat her again, she ran away, police said.
Upset over the incident, Rajesh locked himself up and set fire to himself after dousing his body with kerosene. He suffered severe burns and his house was completely burned down. His aunt Malligai who lives nearby, rushed Rajesh to the Government Kilpauk Hospital where he died on Saturday morning, police added.