A chilling act of violence unfolded in Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh, as a 17-year-old Class 12 student allegedly shot his school principal, Surendra Kumar Saxena, at point-blank range. Police have described the accused as “remorseless” and possibly a “psychopath,” as per reports from news agency PTI.
The incident occurred on Friday afternoon at Dhamora Government High School. According to investigators, the student followed Saxena, 55, into the washroom and shot him in the head with a locally-made pistol. The teenager then calmly walked into the principal’s office, took his scooter keys, and fled the scene along with a classmate. He was apprehended hours later near the Uttar Pradesh border, still armed with the weapon.
Police revealed that the alleged shooter had a history of disciplinary issues and had frequently been admonished by Saxena for his behaviour. “The accused claims he killed the principal because he often scolded him and told him not to indulge in ‘goondaism’ at school,” an investigator said to PTI. Despite the gravity of the act, the boy has shown no remorse. “He appears to have a psychopathic tendency,” the official added.
Saxena, who had been the principal of the school for five years, was described by his colleagues as a kind and dedicated educator who often went beyond the call of duty for his students. Teachers were left in shock as there were no known disputes that could have led to such an extreme act.
Superintendent of Police Agam Jain stated that the boy had skipped school on Friday and was spotted by Saxena near the gate, leading to yet another warning. Shortly thereafter, the student allegedly committed the crime. The classmate who fled with him on the scooter has been detained for questioning, with authorities seeking to determine his role in the incident.
The firearm used in the killing has been traced back to a man from the accused’s village, who had since moved to Raipur and died two months ago. Police are verifying the details and investigating how the minor obtained the weapon.