Headmistress in Deadly Lunch Scandal Arrested

Meena Kumari was on her way to surrender
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 24, 2013 7:45 AM CDT
Headmistress in Deadly Lunch Scandal Arrested
Indian children who fell sick after eating a free school lunch lie at a hospital in Patna, India, Wednesday, July 17, 2013.   (AP Photo/Aftab Alam Siddiqui)

The headmistress at the school where 23 children died after eating insecticide-tainted food has been arrested, the BBC reports. Meena Kumari, who allegedly forced students to continue eating even after the quality of the meal was questioned, fled after the deaths but was headed toward court to turn herself in today when police arrested her.

The police chief tells AFP she will be questioned, adding, "We need to talk to her first before framing charges." The 36-year-old will appear in court tomorrow, CNN reports. Police also want to speak with her husband, but his whereabouts are not currently known. Ingredients for the meal, including the tainted oil, were kept in the couple's home, which was raided last week. (More India stories.)

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