A class 12 student reportedly shot dead his school’s principal inside her office with his father’s revolver in Indian state Haryana’s Yamunanagar on Saturday, days after he was warned for low attendance.
Police said the 18-year-old boy showed up at Swami Vivekananda Public School during a parent-teacher meeting around 10.30am on Saturday, forced his way into principal Ritu Chhabra’s office and asked her to accept his project report.
He allegedly opened fire when the principal, who used to teach economics, refused. The 46-year-old Chhabra was hit by three bullet injuries — one on the face and two pierced her chest. She died at a private hospital around 2:00pm, according to a hindustantimes report.
The teenager went to the school with his face covered and tried to escape after shooting Chhabra, but guards and parents who had come for the meeting overpowered him, police said. The student was arrested and charged with murder.
“The boy was not good at studies and alleged that the principal used to punish him in front of fellow students over his poor performance and low attendance,” Yamunanagar superintendent of police Rajesh Kalia said.
“He had been warned thrice that he won’t be able to write his pre-board examination because of low attendance. He hadn’t attended school for the past four days,” the officer said.
The pre-board examination begins on Monday.
According to police, when the boy was asked why he shot the principal, he said “she tortured me”.
Police said the boy broke open an almirah in his home and took the registered revolver of his father, a businessman, who was also arrested and charged under the arms act. The father told police that he didn’t know anything about his son’s performance in school.
The boy’s mother and other members of the family were unavailable for comments.
Principal Chhabra is survived by her husband, a businessman, and two sons.