For 14-year-old Pooja, paying Rs 7,000 as bribe to appear for an examination was ridiculous. Her father who was a labourer and her unemployed mother struggling to sustain her four siblings could not afford it. However, unlike 17-year-old Neeraj Kumar, also known as Akash, Pooja was hopeful everything will be all right.

Neeraj, a Dalit, died on Monday of burn injuries after he set himself on fire fearing loss of another year if he did not pay to appear for Class 10 board.

He had already paid Rs 4,000. He took the extreme step after his mother sold a ring to arrange for the rest of the money.

Neeraj and Pooja were among 700 students reportedly asked by the principal of the examination centre Vivek Yadav, who was arrested on Tuesday, to pay the amount to appear for the exam.

During their bus ride back home to Katra Meera at Shikohabad in Firozabad district on Friday from their examination centre Ahabaran Singh Higher Secondary School in Eka after their second board exam, the difference in attitude of Pooja and Neeraj was evident.

Throughout the ride, Pooja reaffirmed herself all would be well but Neeraj was depressed.

“Neeraj was quiet,” Pooja recalls. “He said he wished he could afford to pay the amount,” she told The Indian Express.

Neeraj, who had lost two years after he dropped out to assist his parents to enhance their income doing odd jobs, was facing the prospect of losing another year and his dream of becoming a teacher was shattered.

His mother had already mortgaged her necklace and anklet. She washes utensils in households. Neeraj’s father is an autorickshaw driver.

On Saturday, his mother woke him at 4 am asking him to get ready since the bus left at 5 am and he had a science exam. Neeraj said he did not want to study any more.

“I asked him what was wrong but he didn’t tell me,” said his mother Pushpa Devi.

The whole day, Neeraj refused to eat. He spent time sleeping in his room. But late afternoon, he told his mother he needed more money to appear for the exam.

“We paid that man Rs 4,000. But he told the children they would have to pay to be allowed to cheat in the exam. I told my son he needn’t cheat. But he told me the money would have to be paid irrespective of that. I told him something would be worked out,” said Devi, who by evening mortgaged her ring.

She told Neeraj the amount had been arranged.

“He didn’t show any interest. He cried and said he just wanted to sleep,” she said. On Sunday morning, Neeraj went to the kitchen, doused himself with kerosene and set himself on fire.

“I saw my son running out asking me to help. I didn’t know what to do. All he needed was pay and give his exam,” said Devi, mother of six children. Neeraj was the eldest.

On Tuesday, principal of the school was arrested.

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