M A I N   N E W S

College principal murdered
Her cook, two security guards also killed in Jalandhar
Dharmendra Joshi
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 6
In a horrifying incident, Rita Bawa, principal of one of the prominent women colleges Kanya Maha Vidhyala (KMV), was found murdered at her residence on the college campus in the wee hours today.

The unknown assailants also did not spare her cook Kishore Mandal and two security guardsTarsem Lal and Shamsheedin.

All of them were killed in the same manner by attacking them on their necks with some sharp-edged weapon, said Jalandhar IG Sanjiv Kalra who visited the spot today morning.

While the exact cause of death could not be known till the filing of this report, however, one thing was sure that loot was not the motive behind the murders as the murderers did not take away the gold chain, ear rings and other gold ornaments Rita was wearing, said SP City I.S.K. Kalia while talking to The Tribune.

Kalia said the police was working on every possible theory to solve the mystery behind the blind murders and was keeping all options open, including property dispute.

Meanwhile, police sources said the police had seized blood-stained gloves, five unwashed cups from the kitchen and some other material in an effort to get any clue about the murders.

When The Tribune team visited the spot, Rita’s body was lying on the floor of her bedroom, whereas the bodies of the other three persons were lying in the backyard of her residence.

Rita was over 59 years old and about to retire in March, this year. Also a student of KMV College, Rita had also taught at Kamla Nehru College in Phagwara for some time.

The IG said the murders were done in a very planned and professional manner. The possibility of contract killers behind the murders could not be ruled out, he added.

The preliminary investigation revealed that the murders might have taken place near midnight, but the exact time could be known only after postmortem report, the IG added.

A college employee Santosh Kumari was the first one to know about the murders when she had gone to Rita’s residence in the morning.

In the meantime, Rita’s father Krishan Lal Bawa has ruled out the possibility of any enmity with anybody.

Meanwhile, Rita was cremated at the Kishanpura crematorium in the evening.

Police station No. 8 SHO Balbir Singh said an FIR under Section 302, IPC, against unknown murderers was registered on the statement of Dr Nisha Bhargava, Principal of the adjoining KMV Sanskriti School.