In Sukma, Chhattisgarh, assistant teacher Dhananjay Sahu attempted to mix phenyl in the mid-day meal at a government school due to personal enmity. The police have arrested the accused and initiated an investigation.
Sukma: On August 21, 2025, at the Portacabin government residential school in the Sukma district of Chhattisgarh, assistant teacher Dhananjay Sahu attempted to mix phenyl into the mid-day meal served in the hostel due to personal enmity. The incident was detected in time, and the food was disposed of, saving the lives of the children. The police arrested Dhananjay Sahu and registered a case under Section 109 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code. Officials are investigating whether anyone else was involved in this incident.
Lives of Students Saved by Destroying the Food
According to the police and officials, this incident occurred on August 21 when dinner was being prepared at the Portacabin school located in Pakela village. As per the complaint, assistant teacher Dhananjay Sahu mixed phenyl into the food due to personal differences with the hostel warden, Dujal Patel. A staff member became suspicious due to the smell of the food and saw empty phenyl bottles nearby. The warden was immediately informed, and the food was safely destroyed. This saved the students from a major tragedy.
Accused Dhananjay Sahu Arrested in Phenyl Case
Dhananjay Sahu, a resident of Patora village in Durg district, was arrested by the police at the Chinghad police station. During initial interrogation, the accused confessed to his act and stated that the reason was personal differences with the warden. The police have registered a case against the accused under Section 109 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code. The investigation team is also working to ascertain if anyone else was involved in this incident.
District Collector Orders Safety Checks in Schools
Following the incident, the District Collector of Sukma immediately ordered an investigation. Officials stated that if action had not been taken in time, this incident could have turned into a major tragedy. Emphasis has been reiterated on mid-day meal safety and monitoring in government schools. Officials have directed a review of compliance with nutrition security standards in all schools.
