Future of 850 Students under cloud after Saraswati Paradise School murder; Civic Body seeks Government intervention
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Future of 850 Students under cloud after Saraswati Paradise School murder; Civic Body seeks Government intervention
Shimla, June 14,
Even as police continue their hunt for the assailants who shot dead Saraswati Paradise School administrator Meenakshi (Manisha) Mittal outside the school premises in Sanjauli, concerns are now growing over the future of nearly 850 students and dozens of teaching and non-teaching staff associated with the institution.
Also read Saraswati Paradise school director shot dead in Shimla; Police launch massive manhunt
The murder, which police are investigating from multiple angles including a long-running ownership and property dispute linked to the school, has sent shockwaves through the educational community and raised fresh questions about the institution’s future. The victim had earlier publicly expressed concerns about her safety amid the dispute. Police have formed special teams and launched an extensive search operation to trace the accused.
Expressing grief over the killing, Shimla Nagrik Sabha demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible and warned that the incident has shaken public confidence in law and order.
“Shimla was once known as a peaceful town where residents and visitors could move around without fear. Incidents of this nature create an atmosphere of insecurity and can adversely affect tourism as well,” said Sabha president Jagmohan Thakur and secretary Vivek Kashyap in a statement.
However, the organisation said the issue extends beyond a criminal investigation. According to the Sabha, more than 850 students are studying in the school and many parents have already paid substantial fees. Several families from rural areas have shifted to Shimla to educate their children, and uncertainty surrounding the institution has left them anxious.
The civic body pointed out that repeated controversies linked to the school over the past several months had already created concern among parents and students. While those issues were somehow tolerated, the present case involves a murder and has intensified fears regarding safety and continuity of education.
Demanding immediate administrative intervention, the Sabha urged the district administration and the state government to take the school under temporary government supervision until the ownership dispute and related legal issues are resolved.
It also sought enhanced security arrangements on the campus, stating that the matter concerns not only two feuding parties but also the future of hundreds of children and the livelihoods of teachers and staff members dependent on the institution.
The organisation warned that if concrete steps are not taken to safeguard students’ interests, it would mobilise parents and local residents and launch an agitation before the administration.
Meanwhile, parents are awaiting clarity on the school’s functioning in the coming days as investigators continue probing the sensational murder that has rattled Shimla.
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