A shocking shooting inside a school in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri district left a 26-year-old teacher dead and ended with the alleged attacker taking his own life. The incident took place on Monday, September 21, 2026, at Children’s Academy in the heart of Lakhimpur Kheri.
According to police and media reports, the accused was identified as 28-year-old Saud Ansari, a resident of Naurangabad. The deceased teacher was 26-year-old Nishat Fatima, who had been teaching at the school for about a year. Police are investigating a suspected failed romantic relationship as a possible motive, although the investigation was still underway.
What happened inside the school?
Ansari reportedly entered the school around 11:30 am carrying a country-made pistol. The school was busy, with examinations underway and hundreds of students on the premises. Reports put the number of students at roughly 350.
Police said Ansari approached Fatima and asked her to come outside the classroom. After she reportedly refused, he allegedly entered the classroom and pulled her toward the corridor. A heated exchange followed.
He then allegedly fired at Fatima. Moments later, Ansari shot himself. Both died at the scene.
Children witnessed the shooting
The gunshots caused panic across the school. Students reportedly screamed and ran for safety as teachers tried to move them away from the area.
District officials, including District Magistrate Anjani Kumar Singh and Superintendent of Police Khyati Garg, reached the school after the incident. The premises were secured and forensic teams collected evidence.
The school was subsequently evacuated and students were sent home with their parents.
Was the attack linked to a breakup?
Police are reportedly examining a failed romantic relationship as one possible explanation for the shooting. However, authorities had not announced a definitive motive at the time of the initial reports. Investigators were also examining the interaction between Ansari and Fatima immediately before the shooting and reviewing CCTV footage.
The circumstances that allowed an outsider to enter the school carrying a firearm are also part of the investigation.
Investigation underway
Police are expected to examine:
- The relationship and prior interactions between the two.
- CCTV footage from the school and surrounding area.
- How Ansari entered the premises with a firearm.
- Witness accounts from teachers and students.
- Forensic evidence recovered from the scene.
The incident has also renewed concerns about access control and security at schools, particularly when large numbers of children are present.
The investigation is ongoing, and the suspected relationship motive should be treated as preliminary rather than established fact.
