Delhi policeman's family 'commit suicide after exam results argument'
A Delhi police officer who scolded his wife, daughter and son over the children's poor exam results returned later to find two of them dead and the other in a critical condition after drinking poison.
The tragedy highlights the intense competition surrounding Indian school examination results Photo: AFP
By Dean Nelson, New Delhi
4:49PM BST 31 May 2013
Assistant Sub-Inspector Pradeep Kumar was reported to be suicidal himself on Friday after discovering his wife Kamlesh, 45, and daughter Priyanka, 17, dead and his 14 year old son Neeraj unconscious at their home.
Colleagues said ASI Kumar had voiced his disappointment after his daughter had failed her Class 12 examinations and son performed poorly in Class 9.
He had blamed his wife for failing to supervise and encourage them but the force of his rage had apparently shocked them.
According to Neeraj, who gave a statement after he recovered later, Priyanka had taken poison.
When he saw her, he did the same, along with their mother when she discovered both unconscious.
The tragedy highlights the intense competition surrounding Indian school examination results, which dominate national media headlines every May.
Colleges advertise to promote their 'toppers' and newspapers report the celebrations of pupils with pass rates of 99 per cent.
One of his colleagues, who asked not to be named, said ASI Kumar was devastated.
"He had scolded his daughter, son and his wife after hearing about the results but there was no physical assault. Apparently he was angry with the bad performance of his children in the examinations. It's common in India to scold your child when they don't perform to your expectations," he said.
"He loved his family very much and like every parent wanted his children to be bright and excel in their studies. He was keenly waiting for her results. He is distraught at this time and we are all helping him to overcome the loss of his family members," he added.
Pervin Malhotra, head of Career Guidance India, said the tragedy highlighted the unbearable pressure being placed on the country's young pupils to succeed.
"Children are under tremendous pressure from their parents to perform in their exams and also to outdo others. Its almost a status symbol for the families to talk about high percentages. If they fail to score good marks, they know what it means for their family and to escape the ire of their parents, sometimes they try to end their lives or just simply escape the situation," she said.
