Govt School Principal Shot Dead In Ballia Chain-Snatching Attempt, Teacher Injured

A 57-year-old government school principal was fatally shot, while a female assistant teacher sustained injuries after three motorcycle-borne assailants allegedly attempted to snatch his gold chain in Uttar Pradesh's Ballia district, police reported Wednesday. The attack occurred Tuesday evening near Sahunpur village as Devendra Yadav and Kanchan Singh were returning home on a motorcycle from a school cluster meeting in neighbouring Deoria district. When Yadav resisted the robbery, the assailants opened fire, striking both victims before fleeing the scene.

Yadav, principal of a local government primary school, and Singh were initially rushed to the community health centre in Siar. Yadav's condition deteriorated rapidly, leading to referrals to Ballia, then Mau, and finally Varanasi's trauma centre, where he succumbed to gunshot wounds en route late Tuesday. Singh, who suffered a bullet injury, is receiving treatment and is reported stable. The incident has shocked the rural community, where such brazen daylight attacks on educators are rare, highlighting concerns over rising street crime in eastern Uttar Pradesh.

Ballia Superintendent of Police Omveer Singh confirmed an FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code for murder, attempted murder, and robbery. Four specialised police teams have been deployed to investigate, utilising surveillance footage, CCTV from nearby areas, and human intelligence networks to identify and apprehend the suspects. Preliminary probes suggest the motive was purely criminal, linked to the gold chain valued at around Rs 50,000, though police are exploring any prior enmities. Local residents have demanded enhanced patrolling along inter-district routes, citing inadequate security for commuters.

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The tragedy underscores vulnerabilities faced by public servants in remote areas, where educators often travel unarmed through isolated stretches. Yadav, a veteran teacher with over three decades of service, leaves behind a wife and two children; community leaders have called for immediate financial aid to his family and stricter anti-robbery measures. As the probe intensifies, authorities urge witnesses to come forward, promising swift justice in this targeted killing.

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