Gorakhpur Police Announces Cash Reward for Arrest of Absconding Officials in Teacher Suicide Case
In a significant development, the Gorakhpur Police on Saturday announced a cash reward of Rs 10,000 each for information leading to the arrest of two absconding officials implicated in a tragic case of abetment to suicide. The accused are identified as Shalini Srivastava, the suspended basic shiksha adhikari (BSA) of Deoria, and Sanjeev Singh, a clerk. Both are wanted in connection with the suicide of Krishna Mohan Singh, a 37-year-old teacher.
Intensive Manhunt Launched with Four Special Teams
Gorakhpur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kaustubh revealed that a comprehensive search operation is underway. Four special police teams have been constituted to conduct raids across multiple districts, including Deoria, Ballia, Lucknow, and Prayagraj. The primary objective is to locate and apprehend Shalini Srivastava and Sanjeev Singh, who have been evading arrest since the case was officially registered.
The police action follows the recovery of crucial evidence from the official residence of the suspended BSA. A Digital Video Recorder (DVR) was seized, and footage from February 20 shows Krishna Mohan Singh visiting the BSA office along with two individuals named Aparna Tiwari and Omkar Singh. This evidence is being analyzed as part of the ongoing investigation.
Background of the Case: Allegations of Extortion and Harassment
The case originated from a First Information Report (FIR) lodged at the Gulriha police station in Gorakhpur on February 22. The complaint was filed by Gudiya Singh, the wife of the deceased teacher. In her statement, she accused Shalini Srivastava, clerk Sanjeev Singh, and a retired headmaster, Anirudh Singh, of collectively abetting her husband's suicide through persistent threats and harassment.
The complainant alleged that the accused officials demanded a staggering sum of Rs 16 lakh from Krishna Mohan Singh, purportedly in exchange for restoring his teaching appointment. It is claimed that the continuous pressure and intimidation from these individuals ultimately drove the teacher to take his own life.
Previous Arrest and Ongoing Legal Proceedings
Prior to this reward announcement, the police had already taken one suspect into custody. The third accused, retired headmaster Anirudh Singh, was arrested earlier in the investigation. His apprehension marks a step forward, but the absconding status of Shalini Srivastava and Sanjeev Singh has prompted the police to escalate their efforts with the cash reward initiative.
The Gorakhpur Police are urging the public to come forward with any information that could assist in locating the fugitives. The reward of Rs 10,000 per accused underscores the seriousness with which authorities are treating this case, which highlights issues of corruption and administrative misconduct within the education sector.
