A 26-year-old teacher was shot inside a school in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri, with police identifying a 28-year-old man as the accused. The victim was identified as Nishat Fatima, who had been teaching at Children’s Academy School for around a year. Police identified the accused as Mohammed Saud. According to Lakhimpur Kheri SSP Khyati Garg, Saud entered the school to meet Fatima and took her to a corridor on an upper floor. During their conversation, he allegedly took a country-made pistol from his bag and shot Fatima. Police said Saud then shot himself, fearing arrest. Fatima and Saud had known each other for a long time, police said. The motive is under investigation. A complaint filed by Fatima’s brother alleged that Saud had been harassing her and pressuring her to marry him. Police were examining CCTV footage, questioning school staff and witnesses, and investigating how Saud entered the school with a firearm. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, Uttar Pradesh recorded more than 4 lakh crimes in 2024, the highest absolute number among states in the country.