Sonipat teacher pays with life for not allowing cheating

Sonipat (Haryana), April 9 (IANS) An honest school teacher in Haryana's Sonipat town has paid with his life for refusing to let a student cheat in the Class 12 board examinations, police said.

The victim, Rakesh, a Hindi teacher at Ramjas School here, was hit by a speeding car Friday driven by two youths, Vikram and Hari Om, while he was returning home from school. The two had earlier threatened him with dire consequences if he refused to let their friend cheat, police said.

Seriously injured, he was rushed by his family members to a hospital here and then taken to New Delhi for treatment where he died Sunday.

The victim's family claimed he had been threatened with dire consequences by the both accused unless he let their friend cheat in the Class 12 examination of the Haryana School Board. Since Rakesh refused, the accused allegedly crushed him under their car.

'They had threatened him with dire consequences if he refused to let the concerned student cheat in the exams. Rakesh has paid a very heavy price for his stand. The accused should get maximum penalty,' said Mukesh, the victim's younger brother.

Police said they have registered a case of murder against the accused. One of the accused, Vikram, was arrested Monday while Hari Om is still absconding.

'We have registered a case and are investigating the matter,' station house officer Surinder Kumar said.

Rakesh was considered an upright teacher in the private school where he taught for nearly five years.

'He was a very dedicated and honest teacher. Whatever happened should never have happened,' school management chairman Ved Pal said.