Jharkhand school principal shot by unidentified men, condition critical

Khunti: The principal of a missionary school in Jharkhand’s Khunti district was shot at by unidentified attackers on Wednesday morning, leaving him critically injured.

Father Benedict Barla, principal of RC Boys Middle School and a priest associated with St. Michael’s Cathedral, was found lying in a pool of blood on the school campus at around 8.30 am.

According to initial information, Father Barla had stayed in the school office the previous night. Police said it was yet to be established whether the shooting took place late on Tuesday night or in the early hours of Wednesday.

He was first taken to Khunti Sadar Hospital, where doctors provided emergency care. As his condition deteriorated, he was referred to Ranchi and later admitted to Pulse Hospital for specialised treatment.

Senior police officers, including the Khunti Superintendent of Police and the Sub-Divisional Police Officer, rushed to the school after receiving information about the incident.

A police team inspected the campus and began collecting evidence. Officials said the investigation would focus on identifying the gunmen and determining why Father Barla was targeted.

Investigators are also examining CCTV footage from the school’s surroundings and from roads leading to the premises. The footage is expected to help police trace the movement of the suspects before and after the attack.

The identity of the assailants and the motive behind the shooting remain unknown. Police said they were probing the case from all possible angles and were working to arrest those responsible.

Earlier this year, two Roman Catholic priests were killed and another injured after the car in which they were travelling met with an accident on the Ranchi-Simdega Main Road in Khunti district on January 8. The deceased were identified as Father Sushil Praveen Tiru and Father Sunil Bhengra, both from Dodma.

(Inputs from IANS)