Authorities in Sukma district, Chhattisgarh, have made a significant breakthrough in the case of poisoned school meals at a government residential school. Police apprehended Dhananjay Sahu, an assistant teacher, on Wednesday, for allegedly mixing phenyl into the food intended for 426 students. The arrest followed a complaint filed by hostel superintendent Dujal Patel, as confirmed by a police official. Sahu was employed as a teacher at the government residential Porta Cabin School in the Pakela village of the district.
The police investigation revealed that the incident occurred on August 21st, when Sahu reportedly added phenyl to the evening meal served to the students. This action stemmed from personal differences between Sahu and hostel superintendent Patel, according to the complaint filed on Tuesday.
The plot was discovered when a Porta Cabin staff member noticed an unusual odor emanating from the food and discovered empty phenyl bottles nearby. The staff member immediately alerted Superintendent Patel, who promptly arranged for the food to be safely discarded. Senior officials were informed, prompting the Sukma District Magistrate to order a thorough investigation.
The motive behind the poisoning was rooted in a longstanding dispute between Sahu and Patel. Initially, Sahu held the position of hostel superintendent. His tenure was marked by an incident where a student was severely injured, leading to Sahu’s removal from the position. Patel subsequently took over the role, creating friction between the two individuals. The poisoning was an act of revenge motivated by this ongoing animosity.
During the investigation, Sahu’s involvement was established. Following the investigation report, Patel filed a formal complaint at the Chhindgarh police station, leading to Sahu’s arrest. During interrogation, Sahu admitted to his crime, citing personal grievances with Superintendent Patel as the reason.
Sahu, a resident of Patora village in Durg district, now faces charges under Section 109 (attempt to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). He was presented in court and has been placed in judicial remand. The police are currently investigating all aspects of the case to uncover all the facts.