Bihar: College professor injured after being shot on campus in Sitamarhi

Sitamarhi: The serene atmosphere at SRK Goenka College in Sitamarhi was shattered on Tuesday when Professor Ravi Pathak, the Head of the Department of Physics, was shot by an unknown assailant. The incident, occurring around 12:15 pm, has left the professor’s family and the community in shock.

Professor Ravi Pathak’s family, residing in Prabhat Nagar, consists of his parents, father Dayanand and mother Vijay Devi, and his siblings. Ravi, the elder son, became the unfortunate victim of the shooting incident. His younger brother, Arpit, works as an engineer in Pune, while both sisters are married—one residing in Delhi and the other in Ahmedabad.

Uncle Satyadev Pathak, Vice President at Nath Seed Company in Hyderabad, has been on bed rest for the past 14 days.

Uncle Satyadev highlighted Ravi’s academic achievements, noting his distinction in topping MSc Physics at AMU and completing a PhD from Delhi IIT. Ravi’s wife, Deepti, a resident of Sudamapuri with a PhD from AMU, adds to the academic prowess of the family. The news of the incident reached the family around 3 pm, causing distress and concern for Ravi’s well-being.

Reportedly, the assailant attempted to shoot Ravi, who managed to bow down just in time, resulting in the bullet tearing through his jaw. Despite the traumatic experience, Ravi’s condition is stable. An ambulance remains on standby for any potential emergency shifts, and relatives have gathered at Prabhat Nagar to support and care for Ravi’s mother, Vijay Devi.

Known for his honesty, Professor Ravi Pathak had openly discussed corruption approximately a year ago, firmly stating his opposition to bribery. His recent return from Varanasi and Ujjain just two days ago has left the family puzzled about the sudden turn of events.

The injured professor has been admitted to Dr. Varun Kumar’s clinic in the city for treatment. The attack occurred in the Physics Department room, with an unknown assailant firing a single bullet at Professor Ravi Pathak before fleeing the scene. SDPO Ramakrishna and Nagar police station personnel reached the site to conduct an investigation.

Dr. Ravi Pathak, a resident of Ghazipur district in Uttar Pradesh, has been working at Goenka College since March 21, 2018. DSP Ram Krishna stated that the professor was struck by a single bullet to his face, and the assailant acted alone.

Eyewitness accounts reveal the chilling moment when the assailant, dressed in a black check shirt, jeans, cap, and mask, approached the Physics Department. Lab technician Bablu Kumar, who was present during the incident, described the sudden sound, the panic that ensued, and the professor holding his cheek, prompting immediate alarm and assistance.

Police are actively reviewing CCTV footage from the incident site, and SP Manoj Kumar Tiwari is leading the investigation. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, and the police are exploring all leads to identify and apprehend the culprits.