Gurugram Principal Murder: 800 Schools To Protest on 30 January

A class 12 student on 20 January, shot dead his principal in Haryana’s Yamunanagar for being rusticated

A class 12 student on Saturday, 20 January, shot dead his principal, Ritu Chhabra in Haryana’s Yamunanagar.

(Photo Courtesy: Ritu Chhabra/Facebook)

Over 800 private schools across Haryana including 100 in Gurugram will remain shut on Tuesday, 30 January to protest against the murder of a school principal by a Class 12 boy in Gurugram’s Yamuna Nagar, reported TOI.

The protest was called by the association of private schools in the state after the principal of Swami Vivekanand Public School, Yamunanagar, was shot dead. The association has demanded safety measures for school management members, principals, staff and students.

A class 12 student on Saturday, 20 January, shot dead his principal in Haryana’s Yamunanagar.

According to Hindustan Times, the boy was rusticated for a fortnight from his school, owing to poor attendance and misbehaviour. The boy allegedly shot the principal out of frustration arising from her decision to suspend him.

The student has reportedly been detained by the police following the incident.

According to TOI, Blue Bells Model, Shri Ram, Amity, Shiv Nadar, Heritage, Shalom Hills International, Ridge Valley, Bal Bharti Public and other prominent schools in Gurugram will take part in the protest.

The association is also preparing a memorandum of demands to be sent to the chief minister through the deputy commissioner. Private school authorities feel that instead of taking steps to ensure safety of teachers and principals in campuses, the administration is trying to attack them.

The safety committee is auditing only private schools. What about government schools? Also, why have they included cops in the committee? We are being treated like criminals

Colonel Pratap Singh, senior vice-president of Haryana Progressive School’s Conference (HPSC), told TOI

Police said that the boy entered the school with his father's revolver around noon on 20 January and demanded to meet the principal, Ritu Chabra. He then barged into Chabra's office and opened fire. Chabra reportedly succumbed to three bullet injuries in the hospital.

Superintendent of Police Rajesh Kalia told the Hindustan Times that the student was detained and an investigation was currently underway.

He added that the father was also booked, and could be charged under the Arms Act, 1959.

(With inputs from Hindustan Times and TOI)