Chhattisgarh teacher arrested for mixing phenyl in hostel meal

An assistant teacher at a government-run residential school in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district has been arrested for allegedly attempting to poison hostel students by mixing phenyl in their meal to “settle a personal score” with the hostel superintendent, police said on Wednesday.According to information,the accused, identified as Dhananjay Sahu, was posted at a government residential porta cabin school for boys in Pakela village. He was arrested on charges of attempt to murder following a complaint lodged by hostel superintendent Dujal Patel on Tuesday.According to the complaint, on August 21, Sahu allegedly mixed phenyl, a disinfectant and floor cleaner, into a vegetable dish prepared for dinner. A school staffer detected a foul smell in the food and discovered empty phenyl bottles nearby, immediately alerting Patel. The contaminated food was safely discarded before being served to students, police said.
Following the incident, Sukma district authorities ordered an inquiry, which indicated Sahu’s role in the act. Based on the report, Patel filed a formal complaint at Chhindgarh police station, leading to Sahu’s arrest.During interrogation, Sahu confessed that he carried out the act to take revenge on Patel over personal differences, police said.A resident of Patora village in Durg district, Sahu has been booked under Section 109 (attempt to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Further investigation is underway.Porta cabin schools in the Bastar region are prefabricated structures set up in remote tribal areas to provide education to children from interior villages,according to information.