A bizarre incident has emerged from the education department in Katihar, Bihar, where local villagers reached the district administration while playing traditional drums to complain that their entire school had been stolen. The residents arrived at the district headquarters demanding justice and asking authorities to trace the missing school. This unusual case pertains to the Bihar region, specifically the Dighapar Primary School located in the Pranpur block of Katihar district.
How a Rs 44 Lakh School Was Built on Paper
The villagers met with the Sub-Divisional Officer, Sub-Divisional Police Officer, and other senior district officials, submitting a formal application to seek a proper resolution. Land for the construction of the new Dighapar Primary School building had earlier been provided with the active cooperation of the local community. According to official government documents, a tender process was initiated in the year 2024, under which an amount of 44 lakh 85 thousand rupees was sanctioned for the school building construction.
As per the Bihar e-procurement records under tender number 2024_BSEB_314680-1, a building construction completion certificate was officially issued on March 25, 2025. Furthermore, funds were disbursed to the executing agency in three separate installments. The first installment of 15 lakh rupees was released on April 18, 2024, the second installment of 15 lakh rupees on September 28, 2024, and the final installment of 14 lakh 85 thousand rupees on March 12, 2025. However, the ground reality remains starkly different, as the designated plot still resembles a water body or riverbed, and not a single brick has been laid at the site.
High-Level Probe Ordered Into the Matter
Sadar SDO Suraj Kumar listened carefully to the grievances raised by the locals and assured them that he would personally visit the site to inspect the situation. Terming it a grave matter, he emphasized the need for a thorough inquiry. Amid the government claims of maintaining a zero-tolerance policy against corruption, this episode from Katihar comes as an astonishing revelation. Substantial funds were cleared and disbursed for a school that was never physically constructed, making a comprehensive high-level investigation imperative.
