Class 12 Boy Guns Down School Principal After Scolding for Mobile Phone Use

Yamunanagar: A class 12 student of a private school allegedly shot dead the principal within the school premises on Saturday, reportedly after being scolded for using his mobile phone in the school three days ago.

The accused student fired four shots at Ritu Chhabra, principal of Swami Vivekananda School, with a .9mm pistol and critically injured her, police said. The four bullets hit her in the chest, stomach and shoulder, Yamunanagar Superintendent of Police Rajesh Kalia said.

The incident took place between 11:30 and 12 noon. Chhabra succumbed to her injuries in the hospital, DSP Desh Raj said.

After shooting the school principal, the 18-year-old commerce student tried to flee. However, a couple of parents, who were present for the parents-teachers meet in the school premises, caught hold him of with the help of locals, the SP said.

The student was thrashed by angry locals and then handed over to the police, an official said.

During preliminary investigation, the accused student told the police that he was upset with the school principal for allegedly reprimanding him a couple of times. "He had a grudge against the school principal for reprimanding him few times in front of his class mates on the complaint of teachers," the SP said adding that he was not attending school for the past few days.

The SP said the police were also investigating whether the accused was taking drugs. "He was supposed to attend his tuitions today. But rather than going to tuitions, he went to the school," the officer said. As he was a school student, he was allowed to meet the school principal, SP Kalia said.

"He talked to the Principal for some time and then came out. He then again entered the principal's room and opened fire at her with the revolver," said the SP.

During investigation, it came to light that the student stole his father's licensed revolver by breaking the wooden Almirah at his home. He took the revolver without the knowledge of his parents, Kalia said. The accused student's father is a financier and a landlord in Yamunanagar, he said.

"He has confessed to his crime and weapon has also been recovered. He will be presented before the court the tomorrow," he said.

The accused student has been booked for murder under section 302 of the IPC, said the police.