LUCKNOW: Gorakhpur police on Wednesday arrested suspended former Deoria Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA) Shalini Srivastava from Delhi, months after she was declared absconding in connection with the suicide of an assistant teacher. A reward of Rs 25,000 had been announced for information leading to her arrest after she repeatedly failed to join the investigation.
Details of the Arrest
Police said Srivastava had been hiding in the national capital to evade arrest since an FIR was registered against her and clerk Sanjeev Singh on charges of abetment to suicide and criminal intimidation. Acting on intelligence inputs, a police team traced her location in Delhi and took her into custody before bringing her to Gorakhpur.
The Suicide Incident
The case stems from the death of 37-year-old assistant teacher Krishna Mohan Singh, who died by suicide at his residence in Gorakhpur on the night of February 20-21. Before taking the extreme step, Singh allegedly recorded a video and left behind a four-page suicide note accusing officials of the Basic Education Department of extorting money and subjecting him to sustained mental harassment.
Allegations of Extortion
According to the FIR lodged by his wife, Gudiya Singh, the teacher's appointment in Deoria's Gauri Bazar block was cancelled along with those of two other teachers over alleged irregularities. The matter remained under litigation, and the family alleged that officials demanded Rs 16 lakh each from the affected teachers for facilitating their reinstatement despite favourable court orders.
Financial Pressure
The complaint further alleged that Singh arranged money through loans and by mortgaging family jewellery but continued to face pressure for additional payments. On the day of his death, he was allegedly summoned to the Deoria education office, where he was humiliated and threatened with false cases.
Investigation and Aftermath
Following the suicide, police seized the note and video for forensic examination and launched an investigation. The case triggered widespread outrage, prompting departmental action against the accused officials. While Srivastava has now been arrested, police said efforts are continuing to ascertain the role of other accused persons, including clerk Sanjeev Singh, who is also named in the FIR. Further investigation is underway.
