Bengal school headmaster critically injured in firing by unidentified assailants

Kolkata, Aug 8 (IANS) A government primary school headmaster was critically injured after unidentified assailants opened fire on him in West Bengal’s North Dinajpur district on Saturday, police officials said.

The incident took place in the Madaripur area in Islampur. The injured person has been identified as Nazrul Islam. He is the headmaster of Rajabhim Primary School in the district.

Local eyewitnesses told media persons that Islam lives at Ambagan intersection in Islampur. He had no political affiliation. “Like every other day, he had left his house to go to school. As he reached the Madaripur area, some miscreants fired a few rounds of bullets targeting him. He fell on the road after he was hit by a bullet, bleeding profusely. The local residents quickly rescued him and took him to the Islampur Sub-division Hospital,” said an eyewitness.

According to police, the condition of the injured headmaster is very critical. “He was first shifted to the Islampur Sub-division Hospital. However, considering his medical condition, he was shifted to the North Bengal Medical College & Hospital at Siliguri in adjacent Darjeeling district,” said a local police officer.

Law enforcement officials have launched an investigation into the attack. The motive behind the shooting and the identity of those involved are yet to be determined. The incident has triggered concern and speculation in the locality, particularly as the victim is not known to have any political affiliation.

The police are checking the footage of the CCTVs installed in the area for a lead.

Islam’s family members have claimed that he had no personal enmity with anyone. Colleagues of Islam expressed shock over the incident, maintaining that he had no known personal enmity with anyone. Fellow teachers described him as a dedicated and punctual educator who remained focused on his professional responsibilities.

–IANS

src/skp