Patna – A 28-year-old government school teacher, Shivani Kumari, was shot dead by two motorcycle-borne assailants near her school in Araria district, Bihar, on Wednesday morning, in what police and local sources believe may have been an honour killing linked to her rejection of a marriage proposal.
Ms Kumari, originally from Barabanki in Uttar Pradesh, had been recruited through the Teacher Recruitment Examination (TRE-1) conducted by the Bihar Public Service Commission in 2023. She was posted as a teacher for Classes 1 to 5 at Middle School Kanhaili in Narpatganj block.
According to highly placed sources cited by local media, Ms Kumari’s engagement had taken place a week earlier and her wedding was scheduled to occur within days in Uttar Pradesh. However, a local youth described as a “muscleman” had reportedly been pressuring her to marry him. She is said to have repeatedly rejected his advances and did not report the harassment to the police, reportedly believing the matter would not escalate.
Superintendent of Police Anjani Kumar confirmed that a murder case has been registered and raids are under way to apprehend the suspects. “The killers will be arrested soon,” Mr Kumar told reporters, adding that investigators are examining possible motives and have recorded statements from school staff. The victim’s family has been informed.
The incident has reignited serious concerns about the safety of teachers, particularly women posted to rural areas of Bihar. Sunil Kumar Yadav, a prominent teachers’ union leader, described the killing as evidence of deteriorating security and demanded immediate protection measures. “We will launch an agitation if substantive steps are not taken to ensure the safety of the teaching community,” he warned.
Police sources said Ms Kumari, who lived in a rented house in Forbesganj and commuted to school by scooter, was shot at close range shortly after arriving in the school vicinity on Wednesday morning.
No arrests have been announced at the time of going to press.
