Miscreants barged into the government plus 2 high school Haidernagar in Palamau about 90 km away from Daltonganj and stole several equipments including seven solar panel batteries, according to sources. The matter came to light on Thursday when school principal Ganga Agrawal found the lock open.

The theft is suspected to have been committed on the intervening night of November 10/11, according to sources. Agrawal said, “As examination forms of Jharkhand Academic Council's class 10 and 12 are being filled up by the students, we even went to our school on the day of Chhath, November 10 and also on November 11 when the theft happened.” Seven solar panel batteries, dvr, CCTV camera, monitor, induction chulha and seven chairs were found stolen from the school, she said.

Sources said the school management has no clue as to why even seven chairs were stolen. Online classes had to be stopped due to the theft of the solar panel batteries and other equipments. Around 3,600 boys and girls who study in this school are left shocked at this incident. This school caters to students from class 9 to 12. The principal admitted the school had no night guard at the time of the incident. However a Nepali night guard has been appointed following the theft. Thieves have damaged the electricity wall wiring of the school also, sources said.

A written complaint has been lodged with the local Haidernagar police station. Sub-inspector of Haidernagar police station S S Oraon said, “We have received the complaint and are investigating.” Sources said theft in schools is quite a common practice here in Palamau district. Police admit on an average, one case of theft in a school is reported every three months or so, sometimes the number increases.

Sources said there is a design behind the theft of batteries and it appears to be a work of an organised network. This incidence of theft has been brought to the notice of the deputy commissioner Palamau Shashi Ranjan and district education office. Superintendent of police, Palamau Chandan Kumar Sinha when contacted, said he would leave no stones unturned to nab the accused and has directed the sub divisional police officer of Hussainabad Pujya Prakash to crack this case on a high priority level.