Lakhimpur: A man entered a school in Lakhimpur, Uttar Pradesh, on Monday morning and shot dead a 26-year-old teacher. He then turned the gun on himself.
The incident was reported from the Children’s Academy that is located directly opposite to the collectorate in the heart of the town. There was panic among the 350-odd students who were present at the school during the incident.
According to the police, Saud Ansari (28), a resident of Naurangabad, entered the school with a bag around 11.30 am. He climbed the stairs and went to the second floor where Nishat Fatima was taking a class.
Saud allegedly asked Fatima to come out to the corridor. When she refused, he entered the classroom, grabbed her hand and pulled her out to the corridor. A heated argument then ensued between the two.
Even as teachers from other classrooms came out to check, Ansari pulled out a gun and fired at Fatima. She fell to the floor. The youth then shot himself. Students who saw the incident screamed in panic even as the teachers tried to move them away.
Examinations were underway at the time, and there was full attendance at the time of the incident, authorities said.
Officials, including district magistrate Anjani Kumar Singh and SP Khyati Garg and circle officer Vivek Tiwari, reached the school after receiving information about the incident. The area was secured, and forensic teams collected evidence.
The school was evacuated and all students were sent home with their parents.
Garg confirmed the deaths and said the motive was being investigated. The police are also probing how Ansari entered the school carrying a weapon and the circumstances leading up to the shooting. The incident has raised serious questions over security arrangements at schools catering to young children.