Teachers of public and private schools in Patna took to the streets on Monday demanding immediate arrest of the murderers of one of their colleagues, while police bought time for a “logical conclusion” to the case.
The 48-year-old principal of the nursery section of Ankur Public School, Neelam Sharma, was killed allegedly by robbers at her home, also housing the institution, at Rajiv Nagar locality under the jurisdiction of Patliputra police station on Friday. The cops are yet to make any headway in the daylight murder case.
While police officers either refused to comment on the case or spoke of detaining suspects, teachers affiliated to different groups, including Bihar Public School and Children Welfare Association and Private Schools and Children Welfare Association, took out an akrosh (anger) march on Monday. They marched from Kargil Chowk to Raj Bhavan and submitted a memorandum to the governor’s office.
D.K. Singh, the president of the Bihar Public School and Children Welfare Association, said: “Those responsible for the murder should be arrested immediately. A police constable should be deputed at the residence of Neelam. Policemen patrolling near schools should remain on duty till classes end.”
Shamael Ahmad, president, Private Schools and Children Welfare Association, said Rs 10 lakh should be paid to Neelam’s family by the government as compensation. “The police have to ensure the safety of students and teachers,” he said.
Asked about what progress they had made in the case, the police failed to provide any convincing answer. “Some people whom we suspect have been rounded up. We are interrogating them at present. We are doing our job and should be able to solve the case in some time,” deputy inspector-general (central range) Sunil Kumar said.
Patna city superintendent of police Jayant Kant had said on Sunday that Neelam died of internal bleeding, haemorrhage and shock from internal injuries on her chest and lungs after she was assaulted. An officer at the Patliputra police station said on Monday: “We want to take the case to a logical end. It will take some time.”
A police officer on the condition of anonymity told The Telegraph that the crime rate had surged in Patna because of the lack of the influence of the cops. “Criminals don’t seem to be scared of the cops. They feel that the police will not touch them. This is a new development and has to be checked immediately. The police need to adopt a more vigorous attitude to solve crimes,” the officer said.