Munish Sood
Kangra
A shocking incident of violence inside a school campus has been reported from Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district, where a mid-day meal worker was brutally m*urdered within the premises of a government primary school, triggering fear and outrage across the region.
The incident occurred at the Government Primary School in Chanour village, under the Dehra subdivision. The victim has been identified as Sulochana Devi (58), wife of Vishambhar Das and a resident of Chanour, who was employed as a cook under the mid-day meal scheme.
Attack During School Hours
According to preliminary police information, the incident took place on Thursday at around 12:20 pm, while the woman was preparing the mid-day meal for children. An assailant reportedly entered the school premises and launched a fatal attack using a sharp-edged weapon, inflicting multiple blows.
Teachers Secured Children Amid Panic
Centre Head Teacher Sarita Devi said she rushed out after hearing screams from students and saw an unknown individual repeatedly attacking the worker.
In view of the seriousness of the situation, school staff acted swiftly and locked children inside classrooms to prevent further harm and avoid escalation.
When teachers attempted to intervene, the attacker allegedly tried to assault them as well.
Accused Fled Scene, Later Arrested
Staff from a nearby senior secondary school also reached the spot and attempted to stop the assailant, who fled shortly thereafter. Police personnel from Dadasiba arrived soon after receiving information, took custody of the body, and shifted it to Dadasiba Hospital, where post-mortem procedures are being conducted.
Forensic teams have collected evidence from the crime scene, and an investigation has been initiated.
Motive Under Investigation
The motive behind the killing has not yet been established. Police officials stated that multiple angles are being examined and further questioning is underway.
Speaking to the media, DSP Rajkumar of Dadasiba confirmed the incident and said the accused has been arrested.
“We received information about the घटना and immediately reached the location. The accused has been taken into custody, and further investigation is in progress,” the DSP said.
Widespread Concern Over School Safety
The incident has caused widespread concern among parents, villagers, and the teaching community, raising serious questions about safety arrangements in educational institutions.
Police authorities have assured that the case will be thoroughly investigated and all circumstances leading to the murder will be brought to light.
