Fear of failure drives Class IX boy to suicide

A 17-year-old student hanged himself at his residence in East Delhi here on Tuesday evening with the police suspecting that he ended his life fearing failure in an examination.

Identified as Ankit, the victim was a Class IX student at a private school and was a resident of Kalyanpuri’s block number 19.

No suicide note was recovered from his possession which has prompted the police to investigate whether apprehensions of failing a retest for his Mathematics paper, which he had failed recently, drove him to the edge.

According to the police, the incident was reported around 3:30 p.m.. Ankit apparently locked himself in his room and did not open the door despite repeated attempts to seek access by his mother.

Perplexed, she broke the door open with help from neighbours and family members and found Ankit hanging by his neck from the ceiling fan. The police were informed after which a team rushed him to the Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital where doctors declared him brought dead.

“Since no suicide note was recovered from his possession, we questioned his family and friends about the possible reasons that might have prompted him to take the extreme step,” said a police officer.

“Some of those questioned have expressed apprehensions that he might have taken the extreme step fearing that he would fail to clear the retest of his Maths exam. This is being investigated,” the officer added.