Ranchi, Feb. 11: A Class X student of Bishop Westcott Girls’ School, Doranda, committed suicide by setting herself on fire at Kanta Toli this afternoon.

Saba Parveen’s father Mohammed Muslim, who runs an automobile spare parts shop at Kanta Toli, informed the police about her death. He said she had failed to clear her pre-board examination. Saba’s body was sent to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences for post-mortem. A case of unnatural death was registered with Lower Bazaar police station on the basis of Muslim’s statement.

A neighbour said Saba, 14, took the extreme step after her father scolded her. “She could not tolerate the discouraging words of her father after she failed in the exam,” he said.

Sub-inspector and investigating officer of the case R.N. Ram said that Saba used kerosene to set herself ablaze. “We recovered a glass smelling of kerosene from the spot,” he said.

Sources said the girl came to know about her result around 11.30am. Immediately, she rushed to the first floor of their double-storey house. “Around 1.30pm, Muslim heard screams and ran upstairs to find Saba in flames. He tried to douse the fire and took Saba to RIMS, where the doctors declared her brought dead,” a close friend of Muslim said.

Saba was the youngest of Muslim’s children and was very serious about her career. “Apparently, she could not accept her failure and committed suicide out of frustration,” said a resident.