Burglars target three govt schools in a week

Varinder Singh & Gagandeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, July 18

Burglars targeted three government schools in the district in the past one week and decamped with material worth more than Rs 10 lakh, including LED TVs and computers.

At least 19 government schools have been targeted by thieves in the district in the past one year.

The police have registered three cases but have failed to make any headway in any of them.

SSP Naveen Singla claimed that 16 old cases had been solved by the police.

“I don’t know exactly the number of cases that have been solved but we have launched a crackdown against such criminals,” he said.

In the first incident, burglars managed to steal material from Government Senior Secondary School at Jassi Bagwali village.

A case was registered at the Sangat police station under Section 380 of the IPC against unidentified persons on July 13.

In a complaint lodged by Judge Singh, the principal of the school, it has been stated that unidentified persons decamped with 11 LEDs and one central processing unit of a computer.

Investigating officer Budh Singh Saod said thieves had stolen material from the school during the summer vacation and the incident came to light after the institution opened.

“Investigations are on and the accused will be in our net soon,” he claimed.

In the second incident, thieves stole four CPUs, one LPG cylinder, three LEDs, eight batteries and gadgets worth around Rs 1.60 lakh from Government Senior Secondary School at Hamirgarh village.

In a complaint lodged by principal Lachman Singh, it has been stated that the theft was carried out during the summer vacation.

In this case too, the theft again came to notice of the police after opening of the school post summer vacation.

Investigating officer Baljeetpal Singh said a case was registered against unidentified persons under Sections 457 and 380 of the IPC on July 15 at the Dyalpura police station.

Another burglary was reported from Government Middle School at Burj Dhalla village.

A case was registered at the Dyalpura police against unidentified persons under Sections 457 and 380 of the IPC on July 16 on the basis of a complaint by headmistress Suman.

The burglars decamped with a printer, a projector and other material from the school on July 10.

Investigating officer Kaur Singh said investigation was on and the accused would be nabbed soon.

19 govt schools targeted in a year

• At least 19 government schools have been targeted by thieves in the district in the past one year. 
• In the first incident, burglars managed to steal material from Government Senior Secondary School at Jassi Bagwali village.
• A case was registered at the Sangat police station under Section 380 of the IPC