Kolkata: 16-year-old ends life after phone tiff with mom

KOLKATA: A 16-year-old school girl allegedly committed suicide after being reportedly asked by her parents to concentrate on her upcoming board exams instead of spending time on repairing her smartphone that got damaged recently.
The student, identified as Dolan Das, was studying in Class X had just completed her school tests. A resident of Purba Anadapally under the Regent Park police station area, she allegedly hanged herself on Monday late evening when her mother had gone out for a cup of tea at her neighbour’s residence around 6.30pm
“We had received the information about her death around 7pm from MR Bangur Hospital where doctors said that she was brought dead.The doctors at the emergency wing said she carried oblique and non-continuous ligature mark on her neck, an indication that she had committed suicide,” said a senior officer.
Police said that they had met her kin and neighbours and visited her residence. “Her father is employed in Gujarat and rarely gets chance to visit home. She stays here with her mother Rita Das and elder brother. It has been learnt from her neighbours that her mother had apparently been rebuking her for sometime for her obsession with the mobile phone and social media which Rita felt was distracting her daughter before her Madhyamik exam,” said police.
The duo had an argument even on Monday evening on the same issue after which Rita scolded her daughter for damaging the phone (it fell in the water) and then sending it to a repair shop without even letting her know. “After this, the daughter locked herself up in the room,” said an officer.
Sources said the student of Bansdroni Benoy Balika Vidyalaya later hanged herself with a saree from the ceiling fan around 6.30pm. Her mother returned home by 6.40pm and asked neighbours and some club members for help. “The club members broke open the door and found her hanging,” said Raja Das, an acquaintance.
“No complaint has yet been received,” said DC (SSD) Sudip Sarkar. Police said arrangements were being made to conduct inquest and post-mortem to ascertain actual cause of death. “We will not comment on the exact cause and reason till we get final reports,” said Sarkar.