A horrific incident inside a government primary school in Kangra district has shaken Himachal Pradesh and triggered widespread concern over the safety of staff and children in public institutions. A 58-year-old mid-day meal worker was brutally killed inside the school premises in broad daylight, in an act that has left the region in shock and fear.
The incident took place at a Government Primary School in Chanour village under the Dehra area of Kangra district. The victim, Sulochana Devi, wife of Vishambhar Dass and a resident of Chanour, was working as a mid-day meal cook at the school. According to police officials and eyewitness accounts, she was attacked with a sharp agricultural weapon by a neighbour, identified as Monu, who entered the school campus during operational hours.
The attack occurred at around 12:20 pm, just as the lunch break had begun. Children were present on the campus, and preparations for the mid-day meal were underway. Without any warning, the assailant entered the school premises, moved towards the classroom area, and attacked Sulochana Devi repeatedly, inflicting fatal injuries. She died on the spot, creating panic and chaos among teachers, staff, students, and local residents.
Eyewitnesses describe a scene of terror
A female teacher, Sarita, who witnessed the incident, gave a detailed account to the police. She stated that classes were in progress and the lunch break had just started. Sulochana Devi was seated inside the school while other workers were preparing the area for meal distribution.
Sarita said she was in the washroom when she heard screams. When she rushed back, she saw the attacker striking Sulochana Devi with the sharp weapon. After the initial assault, the attacker briefly left the spot and returned again, threatening further violence. Despite repeated appeals from the teacher to stop the attack, he did not relent.
The entire incident unfolded in front of school children, leaving them traumatised and psychologically scarred. Teachers immediately raised an alarm, and villagers rushed to the school after hearing the commotion.
Police response and investigation
After the attack, the accused initially fled the scene. The police immediately launched a search operation and formed special teams to track him down. He was later arrested, and authorities confirmed that a detailed investigation is underway.
Police officials have stated that the motive behind the killing is still unclear. All possible angles are being examined, including personal disputes, psychological instability, and any previous conflict between the accused and the victim. Statements of teachers, school staff, villagers, and eyewitnesses are being recorded, and forensic evidence is being collected from the crime scene.
Shock and fear across the region
The incident has sent shockwaves across the Dehra region and surrounding areas of Kangra district. Parents, teachers, and local communities are deeply disturbed by the fact that such a violent crime could take place inside a school campus — a space that should represent safety, care, and protection for children and staff.
Residents have expressed anger and fear, questioning the complete absence of basic security arrangements in government institutions, especially in rural areas. Many parents are now anxious about sending their children to school, fearing for their safety.
A serious failure of institutional safety
This incident has exposed a major structural failure in the safety framework of public institutions. Most government schools in rural areas operate without security guards, controlled entry systems, surveillance cameras, or emergency response protocols. Staff members, including mid-day meal workers, teachers, and support staff, work in completely unsecured environments.
There are no standard safety mechanisms to prevent unauthorized entry, no rapid response systems, and no protective infrastructure for workers who serve in these institutions every day. This tragedy highlights a dangerous gap in governance and public safety planning.
Call for government accountability and reform
This is not merely a criminal case — it is a governance crisis. The murder of a worker inside a school campus demands immediate institutional reform. There is a growing demand that the state government must take urgent steps to protect workers and children in public institutions by implementing:
– Mandatory security protocols in schools
– Boundary protection and controlled access systems
– Deployment of trained security personnel
– Installation of CCTV surveillance
– Emergency response mechanisms
– Safety training for teachers and staff
Mid-day meal workers, teachers, and school employees are essential pillars of the public education system. Their lives cannot be treated as disposable or unprotected.
A warning for society
The killing of Sulochana Devi is not just a tragic loss of life — it is a warning signal for society. When violence enters schools, it reflects a deeper breakdown of social order and public safety. Educational institutions must remain the safest spaces in any society. If they become vulnerable, the entire social structure is at risk.
Justice for Sulochana Devi must go beyond the arrest of the accused. It must result in systemic reforms that ensure no worker, teacher, or child ever faces such danger again inside a school campus.
This incident stands as a stark reminder that protecting those who serve in public institutions is not optional — it is a moral and constitutional responsibility of the state.
