Girl tries to persuade brother to study, ends up losing life

MADURAI: She only meant to persuade her younger brother to study but little did eight-year-old Rathi Meenakshi know that her action of dousing herself with kerosene, threatening to set herself afire if he did not do so, could lead to her death.
    
Unhappy over her five-year-old brother's performance in studies, Rathi, a topper in her school here, doused herself with kerosene and told her brother that she could set herself ablaze if he did not study well.

Meenakshi, who accidentally lit a match-stick, was engulfed in flames, police said.

Neighbours rushed her to the Government Rajaji Hospital but she died last night, police said.

Before she succumbed to burns, Rathi said she only meant to 'threaten and tease' her brother, they said.

Her mother was not at home when the incident occurred, police added.