Female bus attendant stabbed to death at Indian school in Dubai

The incident took place at the New Indian Model School in Al Garhoud at around 10.15am while students were in class.

The killing of the woman took place yesterday near the gates of the New Indian Model School in Al Garhoud, Dubai. She is identified as Sonia by staff and worked at the school as a bus attendant. Pawan Singh / The National
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DUBAI // A woman was stabbed to death by a man believed to be her husband outside a school in Dubai on Thursday morning, just yards from where pupils were taking lessons.

The killing took place near the gates of the New Indian Model School (Nims) in Al Garhoud between 10.15am and 11am.

The Indian woman, from southern Kerala state, identified as Sonia by staff, worked at the school as a bus attendant. She had just left a bus carrying teachers to a morning meeting when she was confronted by her compatriot husband, identified as Ranjit, near the car park.

After allegedly stabbing his wife he used the knife on himself and was taken to hospital for treatment.

School authorities covered the woman’s body with a white cloth before police arrived.

Pradip, a student at Nims, said buses bringing in students for afternoon classes were re-routed to the school’s rear gate.

“They did not want us to see the body and blood so they took us from another route. But we heard about it as soon as we reached school,” he said.

“But the other students who come by their own transport saw a lot of blood on the pavement. There was a lot of commotion outside the school because of ambulances and police; they barricaded the area near the entrance.”

A teacher who works at a nearby school, who wished to remain anonymous, said students and staff saw the woman’s body.

“A teacher I know saw the body, and some of the students from my school saw it too and the blood was everywhere.”

Shahnaz, a member of staff at a nearby Indian school, said news of the attack travelled fast. “We heard about it and were very scared because a knife was used.

“It was a very scary incident because it happened in a school.”

A school employee, who asked not to be named, said: “It happened between a husband and wife. It was just outside the campus and classes were on so the children were inside.

“After using the knife on her he cut himself with it. Class has not been stopped.”

Nims is one of eight schools and colleges located close to each other near the Roads and Transport Authority headquarters.

“We were all shocked that this happened outside a school,” said another employee.

“The man was wandering around the school and the car park for some time before. He took out the knife and stabbed her in the neck and stomach several times; there was so much blood.”

The scene had been cleaned and cleared by late afternoon but it continued to draw onlookers from neighbouring schools.

A bus driver said: “He used a knife and it was very violent attack that is why people were scared.”

No one from Dubai police was available for comment.

rtalwar@thenational.ae

* Additional reporting Salam Al Amir