Gorakhpur Teacher Found Murdered in Deoria; School Principal Arrested, Family Alleges Wider Conspiracy

DEORIA/GORAKHPUR: A schoolteacher from Gorakhpur was allegedly strangled to death by the principal of the institution where she worked, after an argument reportedly broke out between them over marriage, police said.

The accused, identified as 36-year-old Vijay Nishad, has been arrested in connection with the murder.

The victim, Rani Vishwakarma, left her home on Saturday, telling her family she was going to her school in Gorakhpur to collect her pending salary. However, she failed to return, leaving her relatives worried about her whereabouts.

The mystery surrounding her disappearance took a tragic turn when police recovered the body of an unidentified woman beside a road in the Rudrapur area of Deoria district, approximately 15 km from the place where she was last seen.

As no personal belongings were found near the body, the police initially struggled to establish her identity.

Investigators subsequently circulated her photograph through social media platforms. This helped establish that the deceased was Rani, a resident of the Jangha area in Gorakhpur.

Following her identification, police approached her family, who confirmed that she had left home for school but had not returned.

According to police, the family raised suspicion against the school principal, alleging that he had been troubling Rani for some time and that she had been under considerable emotional distress.

Police detained Vijay Nishad for questioning. During interrogation, he allegedly disclosed that he and Rani had been involved in a relationship for several years.

Nishad, who is married, reportedly told investigators that she had been insisting that he marry her.

Rani had been associated with the school since 2018. Police said Nishad allegedly asked her to travel with him in his car on Saturday.

After driving for some distance, he stopped the vehicle, following which a disagreement erupted between the two. The argument allegedly turned violent, with Nishad strangling her to death.

The accused was subsequently arrested. Deoria Circle Officer Rajesh Chaturvedi said a case had been registered against him under charges relating to murder and destruction of evidence.

Family alleges salary dispute behind the killing.

Rani’s relatives have raised questions about the circumstances in which she was called to school on a Saturday, which they said was a holiday.

Her sister, Ragini, alleged that Nishad had specifically contacted Rani and asked her to come to the institution to receive her salary.

She further claimed that the principal had been withholding part of her sister’s remuneration for several months.

According to Ragini, Rani normally travelled to school in the institution’s bus, as it was situated around eight kilometres from their residence. On Saturday, however, she went there after receiving the principal’s call.

Ragini alleged that her sister had been assured that the outstanding salary would be paid in full.

She suspected that a disagreement over the pending money might have contributed to the crime, although the allegation remains to be established through the police investigation.

Rani was one of five children of Subhash Chandra Vishwakarma, who earns his livelihood as a carpenter. She was the third child in the family.

Protesters demand compensation, action against others

The killing triggered anger among Rani’s relatives and residents. On Tuesday, they assembled in Gorakhpur and staged a protest, demanding financial assistance for the bereaved family and demolition of the school and properties belonging to the accused.

The demonstrators also blocked a road, alleging that Nishad might not have acted alone. They demanded that police identify and arrest anyone else suspected of having a role in the murder.

Samajwadi Party Gorakhpur district president Brijesh Gautam, who visited the victim’s residence, said the family had expressed suspicion about the involvement of three additional persons.

The protest subsided after police and administrative officials reached the location and held discussions with the demonstrators.

Officials assured the family that its demands would be forwarded to the government and that investigators would examine whether anyone else was involved in the crime.

Jangha police station officer Gyanendra Singh subsequently said the situation in the area had returned to normal.

The police investigation is continuing, including examination of the family’s allegations and the possible involvement of other individuals.