Head constable gets life for shooting teacher over tobacco snub

Agra: A Muzaffarnagar court on Wednesday sentenced a 51-year-old police constable to life imprisonment for fatally shooting a 35-year-old school teacher with his govt-issued carbine during an altercation last year, while he was on official duty delivering UP board examination answer sheets. Additional district and sessions judge Sitaram held head constable Chandraprakash guilty under IPC section 302 (murder) for killing Dharmendra Kumar on March 18, 2024, at SD Inter College under Civil Lines police station limits. District govt counsel Rajeev Sharma said Kumar had travelled from Varanasi to Muzaffarnagar with examination copies. When the team reached the college late at night and found the gate closed, they waited in their vehicle. During this time, the accused, who was posted at police lines in Varanasi, allegedly confronted them. "The constable was under the influence of alcohol and demanded tobacco from the staff. When Dharmendra objected, he opened fire with his service carbine, causing fatal injuries," Sharma said.Police reached the spot after receiving information and shifted Kumar to the district hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Officers arrested Chandraprakash soon after and recovered the service weapon. Investigators recorded statements of teachers and staff present at the scene and sent the body for post-mortem. The incident triggered protests by local teachers and members of Uttar Pradesh Shikshak Sangh, who blocked roads demanding compensation and a govt job for the victim's family."Police registered a case under IPC section 302, arrested the accused and filed a chargesheet within weeks. From the govt side, additional district govt counsel Privendra Singh and Narendra Sharma argued the case. After trial, the court awarded life imprisonment," Rajeev Sharma added. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on Chandraprakash.