Class XII student shoots principal dead

Yamunanagar: Livid at being reprimanded, a class XII student on Saturday allegedly pumped four bullets into his school principal with his father's licensed .32 bore revolver in Haryana, police said. Critically injured, 47-year-old Ritu Chhabra, principal of Swami Vivekanand school, was rushed to a hospital where she succumbed to her injuries, they said.

The four bullets hit her in the chest, stomach and shoulder, Yamunanagar Superintendent of Police Rajesh Kalia said over phone. The incident took place in Yamunanagar between 11:30am and noon on Saturday.

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

The student was beaten up by angry locals and then handed over to the police, an official said. "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 had not been attending school for the past few days. The SP said that the police were also investigating whether the accused was taking drugs.

"He was supposed to attend his tutions today. But rather than going to tutions, he went to the school," the officer said. As he was a school student, he was allowed to meet the 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 had stolen 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 landlord in Yamunanagar. "He has confessed to his crime and weapon has also been recovered. He will be presented before court on Sunday," he said. The accused student has been booked for murder under section 302 of the IPC, said the police.