Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata

Kolkata, Aug 8: A school headmaster was shot dead by unidentified assailants in broad daylight in West Bengal's North Dinajpur district on Saturday, police said.

The deceased was identified as Nazrul Islam, headmaster of a local school in Islampur. He was attacked in the Madaripur area while he was on his way to work on Saturday morning.

After being hit by a bullet, Islam was rushed to the Islampur Sub-Divisional Hospital. He was later shifted to a higher medical facility in Siliguri for further treatment. However, despite doctors' efforts, he succumbed to his injuries around 1 p.m.

The Islampur police have launched an investigation into the incident and are examining CCTV footage from the area to gather clues. No arrests have been made so far, and police have not yet established the motive behind the killing.

Expressing shock over her father's death, his daughter Naina Khatun said the family could not understand why he had been targeted.

“My father was an honest man. He had no enmity with anyone. We have no idea why he had been killed,” she said.

The victim's wife, Ruksana Khatun, said her husband was speaking to her over the phone when the shooting took place.

“Even after he was shot, he informed me about being hit by a bullet. However, he could not say who shot him,” she told media persons.

Colleagues and fellow teachers also expressed disbelief over the killing, describing Islam as a dedicated, punctual and committed educator who had no known personal enmity.

According to local eyewitnesses, Islam, a resident of the Ambagan crossing area in Islampur, had no political affiliation. They said he was proceeding to school as usual when unidentified miscreants intercepted him in the Madaripur area and fired multiple rounds.

One of the bullets struck him, causing him to collapse on the road. Police are continuing their probe to identify the assailants and ascertain the motive behind the murder.