NEW DELHI – The principal at an Indian primary school where 23 children died last week after eating free lunches contaminated with pesticide was arrested Wednesday on murder and criminal conspiracy charges after eight days on the run.
Principal Meena Devi, 35, was caught in Chhapra, the same city where the tragedy occurred, in India’s impoverished northern Bihar state.
On July 16, some 50 children — most under 10 years old — attending Dharmasati Gandaman Primary School complained of feeling sick after eating their lunch, which was provided under a free national government program that feeds an estimated 120 million children.
Officials said Devi was arrested on a warrant after police received a tip on Wednesday leading them to her.
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