Biometric Device Stolen from Govt School in Palamu
PNS
Daltonganj
A government primary school in Jharkhand’s Palamu district has become the latest target of theft, with unidentified miscreants decamping with a biometric attendance device and an old tubewell component from the premises.
The incident took place on the intervening night of July 20 and 21 at New Prathmik Vidyalaya in Bandhpar under Untari Road block. The theft came to light on Tuesday morning when schoolchildren noticed the lock of a room had been broken and informed Headmaster Shyam Bihari Ram.
Speaking on Wednesday, Ram said he reached the school around 9.45 am and found the lock broken. He said the school’s biometric attendance device, which had been kept on his table, was missing. In another room, which was not locked, thieves also stole an old tubewell head.
The headmaster clarified that the theft of the tubewell component has not affected the school’s drinking water supply, as it was an unused part. The school, which has 131 enrolled students and is staffed by only a headmaster and one assistant teacher, continues to receive water through a Jal Minar facility.
Bishrampur Sub-Divisional Police Officer Chiranjeev Kumar said local police have been directed to investigate the case and identify those responsible. He described the incident as the handiwork of anti-social elements and expressed confidence that the culprits would be arrested.
The theft comes just days after miscreants stole two sets of football jerseys from Nindra Adivasi Tana Bhagat High School in neighbouring Latehar district, raising concerns over the security of educational institutions in the region.
