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National

3 minors sneak into school to steal fair money; strike principal with hoe

hellohimachalse@gmail.com 24 Oct 2026 1 day ago

New Delhi: The Jharkhand police on Friday solved the attempted murder case of Father Benedict Barla, the principal of RC Boys Middle School in Khunti district, detaining three minors in connection with the attack. A search is underway to nab a fourth suspect involved in the incident.

The assault had triggered massive outrage across the district, prompting local residents and community members to hold demonstrations demanding swift justice.

According to investigators, all four accused are former students of the school who had completed Class 7 there and previously stayed in the hostel. The group had entered the school premises around 8:30 pm on October 20 with the intention to steal cash so they could visit a local fair.

Confrontation and brutal attack

During the break-in, Father Barla unexpectedly showed up at the school office, catching the boys in the act. Fearing they would be caught, one of the juveniles struck him on the forehead and temple using a small hoe-like sharp tool.

The assault left Father Barla critically injured and unconscious on the floor. The boys then took the money, along with several items from the office, and fled. Police said the entire robbery lasted around 30 minutes.

Father Barla was discovered lying in a pool of blood the next morning on October 21. He was immediately rushed to a hospital in Ranchi, where he continues to receive medical treatment.

Breakthrough and public outcry

Following the incident, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to crack the case using surveillance footage and mobile tower data analysis.

“The three detained juveniles are aged 13, 14, and 15 years. The role and age of the fourth accused will be known after the arrest,” Khunti Superintendent of Police Rishabh Garg said during a press conference on Friday evening.

Police tracked down a suspicious mobile number, which led to the first suspect and subsequently the other two. Investigators recovered Rs 85,747 in cash buried in a nearby forest, along with mobile phones and articles purchased online and from local markets using the stolen funds.

The attack had sparked strong protests across Khunti earlier on Friday, with members of the Christian community and locals carrying out a silent march and blocking roads to demand strict action against the culprits. Police said teams are conducting raids to arrest the fourth absconding accused.

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