Who Was Lady Teacher Uma Verma? Praised by CM Yogi, Case Filed Against Principal and Teacher in Suicide Probe

Barabanki: In a deeply disturbing incident, police in Uttar Pradesh’s Barabanki district have registered an FIR against a school principal and a teacher in connection with the suicide of a government school assistant teacher, Uma Verma. The case has sparked widespread outrage, especially after it emerged that Uma Verma had been publicly praised by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath just two months ago for her outstanding work.

According to police, Uma Verma, an assistant teacher at Udhavapur Composite School in the Satrikh police station area, died by suicide on Saturday by hanging herself inside the school office. Her husband, Rishi Kumar Verma, later lodged a complaint accusing the school’s in-charge principal Sitawati and another assistant teacher, Sushil Kumar Verma, of subjecting his wife to continuous humiliation and mental harassment, which allegedly drove her to take the extreme step.

Allegations of Harassment and Jealousy

Rishi Kumar Verma, a resident of Jalalpur village under Nagar Kotwali police station limits and currently posted as a Block Resource Coordinator (BRC) at a school in the Siddhaur block, told the police that his wife was a dedicated and hardworking teacher who consistently motivated her students and prepared them for competitive examinations.

He claimed that under Uma Verma’s guidance, several students succeeded in various competitive exams and excelled in project work. In recognition of her contribution to education, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had praised her on November 11, 2025. Rishi Kumar alleged that this recognition triggered jealousy among the accused, who thereafter intensified their mental harassment of his wife.

Distress Signals Before Death

Rishi Kumar further stated that Uma Verma had repeatedly shared her ordeal with family members and had also expressed her anguish through WhatsApp status messages. On Saturday morning, after he dropped her at school and left for his office, Uma called him again, saying that she was once more being harassed by the same colleagues.

A few hours later, news broke that she had been found hanging inside the school premises.

FIR Registered, Probe Underway

Satrikh Station House Officer Dhirendra Kumar Singh confirmed that based on the written complaint, a case has been registered against Sushil Kumar Verma and Sitawati under sections related to abetment to suicide. “The matter is under investigation, and all necessary legal action will be taken based on the findings,” he said.

The tragic death of Uma Verma has once again raised serious questions about workplace harassment in government institutions and the urgent need for stronger grievance redressal mechanisms to protect educators from mental abuse and professional hostility.