Schoolgirl, 13, poisoned classmate with mosquito repellent

A 13-year-old schoolgirl poisoned a classmate with toxic mosquito repellent in a fit of jealousy over her exam marks, police in India have said.

The year eight private school pupil mixed the poison into her rival’s water bottle and then watched her drink it, according to local media in Satna, Madhya Pradesh state.

Police say she was angry over being beaten by her victim in a school test.

The victim began vomiting after drinking from the bottle and was rushed to hospital where her condition is said to be stable.

The poisoner later tried to commit suicide by the same method when she feared she would be caught and is also being treated in hospital.

Hospital spokesman Dr Sudhir Singh said: ‘We are treating her. She is serious but her condition is under control.’

Police investigating the case say the poisoner was caught when police viewed CCTV footage from the classroom’s security camera.

Police spokesman Bhupendra Singh explained: ‘Both the girls, aged around 13-14, study in the same class.

‘After drinking water from her bottle, the victim suspected something unusual and told her friend that the water smelt like mosquito repellent.

‘After she began to feel uneasy, the school administration informed her parents, who took her to a hospital.’

The year eight private school pupil mixed the poison into her rival’s water bottle and then watched her drink it (file photo of an unrelated mosquito repellent)

He added: ‘In the CCTV footage of the classroom, the accused girl was seen pouring the mosquito repellent into her classmate’s water bottle and then hiding it inside the bag of another student.’

The victim told police she believes her classmate was jealous of her exam marks.

Police spokesman Singh added: ‘The accused girl also consumed the mosquito repellent at her home yesterday and is currently admitted to the district hospital. We are investigating the incident.’