Armed assailants kill Sindh Varsity official

HYDERABAD: Director Student Affairs of University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Prof Bashir Ahmed Chanur was killed in an armed attack by unknown assailants in the varsity's premises on Monday.

According to President Sindh University Teachers Association (SUTA) Dr Azhar Shah, two assailants riding a motorbike attacked Chanur near Allama I.I Qazi's mausoleum when he slowed down his car on a speed breaker.

A security guard standing nearby returned fire on the attackers injuring one of them.

However, they managed to escape.

A university lecturer Rashid Khuhro told APP that Chanur was attacked when he was returning to his residence near Marvi Hostel from the office.

He was rushed to the hospital of Liaquat University Hospial (LUMHS) in Jamshoro where he was announced dead by the doctors, Khuhro said. According to Dr Kashif who attended the deceased at the LUMHS hospital, Chanur suffered 4 gunshots from an automatic gun. "One bullet pierced through his heart, 2 hit in chest and abdomen and one in the arm," he told the APP.

Deputy Registrar of LUMHS Dr Saroop Bhatia said the body of the deceased was being shifted to Civil Hospital in Hyderabad for autopsy.

The Sindh University has been witnessing a wave of protests by groups of students affiliated with the political parties after the university rusticated 19 students and banned 4 ex-students from entry in its premises blaming them for causing law and order situation.

An office bearer of SUTA told the APP on condition of anonymity that the hand of such students in the killing could not be ruled out. However, it was up to the investigators to probe the incident from all dimensions, he added.

According to General Secretary Sindh University Officers' Association Ghulam Nabi Kaka, the slain officer would be buried in his native graveyard in Kandiaro area of Noshehro Feroze.

Pro Vice Chancellor of the SU Dr Parveen Shah, Registrar Akhtar Ahmed Memon, office bearers of SUTA and SUOA all reached the hospital.

Late Chanur was appointed as Director Student Affairs after he retired as professor some 3 years back. (APP)