Yamunanagar school principal shot dead by Class XII boy

Shiv Kumar Sharma

Tribune News Service

Yamunanagar, January 20

A Class XII student of the local Swami Vivekanand Public School shot dead his school principal Ritu Chhabra while she was in her office this morning and tried to flee. He was overpowered and handed over to the police. He used his father’s revolver to commit the crime.

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Yamunanagar Deputy Superintendent of Police  Anil Kumar said the boy, when interrogated, said he was angry with the principal for reprimanding him for coming late and not doing his home work. The boy, he said, fired four shots. The grievously injured principal was rushed to a multi-specialty hospital nearby, where she died. 

Kamal Kamboj, president of Swami Vivekanand Education Society, said the principal was alone in her office when she was targeted as the teachers were in their classrooms for a parent-teacher meeting (PTM). “He was chased by a school peon and overpowered with the help of people outside the school.”

Kamboj said the student was never punished, nor was he rusticated from the school.  “We don’t know why he committed the crime.”

Having worked with the school for 20 years, Ritu Chhabra was made principal about four years ago.

Her husband Rajesh Chhabra, a businessman, said his wife was a humble and gentle person. “I can’t understand why she was killed.” The DSP said the crime weapon had been seized and a case registered against the boy under Section 302 (murder) and the Arms Act. He said a case had also been filed against the father of the accused, Ranjit Singh, a financier owning agriculture land in Gumthala village. 

 Rajesh Kalia, SP,  said the accused had turned 18 on January 10. “He was born on January 10, 2000, and is now a major.”