A first-year law student reportedly shot and killed his female classmate inside a classroom, then turned the gun on himself at a private college in the Tarn Taran district of Punjab on Monday, 9 February morning, according to a report by the Hindustan Times (HT).

The incident that occurred at Mai Bhago Law College in Usma village was recorded on the CCTV camera installed in the classroom.

The tragedy occurred just before the lectures for the day were yet to start. According to police, the accused, identified as 20-year-old Prince Raj of Mallian village, entered the classroom and shot 19-year-old Sandeep Kaur directly in the head after a conversation.

According to PTI, the CCTV footage showed Prince, Sandeep, and another female student sitting together, while other students were also seen.

Suddenly, Prince stood up, pulled out a pistol from his bag, and shot Sandeep. He then shot himself in the head and collapsed to the floor. The shocked student, sitting beside Sandeep, got up and checked on her, but she remained motionless.

A few students hurried into the classroom after hearing the gunshot but fled when they saw Sandeep.

Meanwhile, Prince was quickly taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition and is still under medical care.

Even though a motive has yet to be determined, Tarn Taran senior superintendent of police (SSP) Surendra Lamba said that a “friendship angle” appears to be the primary lead in the initial investigation.

Prince and Sandeep were both first-year law students and classmates at Mai Bhago Law College in Usma village.

A family member of Sandeep claimed that Prince had been harassing her for some time. Her family also stated that Sandeep was engaged to be married," PTI reported.

“We have seized the mobile phones of both students and sent them for forensic examination to understand the nature of their relationship and the events leading up to the shooting,” the HT report quoted SSP Lamba.

The victim, Sandeep Kaur, came from a family facing many challenges. Her mother, Harjinder Kaur, a widow and the only provider for her seven daughters, raised concerns about the college’s safety protocols. “I work hard to educate my children so they can have a future. My daughter left for college normally today,” she was quoted as saying. “The question is: How did a student carry a pistol into a classroom? Does the college have any security system at all?”

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