Sonam Chowdhary hanged herself from the ceiling fan

Told to focus on studies, class 3 girl ends life

A 11-year-old girl committed suicide at her residence at Chikhali in Pune on Monday after her father scolded her for spending more time watching television and not studying. A student of class 3, Sonam Chowdhary hanged herself from the ceiling fan at her residence in Kudalwadi area of Chikhali. The family is from Madhya Pradesh and Sonam’s father is a scrap dealer. Her mother lives in MP. Sonam was studying in a Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation-run school at Chikhali-Kudhalwadi. “The girl was alone at home when she hanged herself. Her father was at his shop in Kudalwadi area. We did not find any suicide note,” said sub-inspector Mahesh Dhawan from Dehu Road police station, who is handling the case. Sonam’s father, Ramlal, told the police that she was loved watching television and spent a lot of time in front of the idiot box. “He scolded Sonam over her TV-watching habit. He told her that spending time watching TV will not help in her life and she should focus on her studies,” Dhawan added. The police said that Sonam apparently got upset after the scolding and ended her life. Through the window, the neighbours saw Sonam hanging and informed her father who was at his shop. Ramlal rushed home and they had to break open the door as it was locked from inside. The neighbours said that the TV in the house was on.