Chemistry Professor Dies a Heroic Death in Bacha Khan University

Chemistry Professor Hamid Hussain fought valiantly till the terrorists shot him dead on 20 January, 2016.

Deceased Syed Hamid Hussain, Chemistry Professor at Bacha Khan university. (Photo: Twitter.com/@omar_quraishi)

In a heroic act, a Pakistani chemistry professor, on Wednesday, lost his life while trying to protect his students using his licensed pistol against armed Taliban militants who stormed the university.

Assistant professor Syed Hamid Hussain, 34, fought back against the terrorists as he warned students not to leave the building of the Bacha Khan university in Charsadda, some 50 kms southwest of Peshawar.

Teachers in northwest Pakistan were given permission to carry firearms in the classroom after the Peshawar school carnage of December 2014 in which Taliban militants killed over 150 people, mostly children.

People comfort a man who lost a family member in the suicide attack in Peshawar, Pakistan. (Photo: AP)

Students spoke of the teacher, who flashed his pistol but was gunned down by the militants besides 24 others, media reports said.

Geology student Zahoor Ahmed said his chemistry lecturer had warned him not to leave the building after the first shot was fired.

<p>He was holding a pistol in his hand. Then I saw a bullet hit him. I saw two militants were firing. I ran inside and then managed to flee by jumping over the back wall. </p>

<b>Zahoor Ahmed, Geology Student</b>

Another student told television reporters that he was in class when he heard gunshots. The students then described seeing the chemistry professor holding a pistol and firing at the attackers.

<p>We saw three terrorists shouting slogans and rushing towards the stairs of our department...Then we saw him fall down and as the terrorists entered the (registrar) office we ran away. </p>

<b>Another Student</b>

President Mamnoon Hussain confirmed Hamid was among the deceased and condoled his death.

Social Media Pays Tribute to Professor Hamid

Netizens took to social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook to hail the lecturer as a martyr.

Professor Hamid’s students have made a Facebook page dedicated to him, named RIP Syed Hamid Hussain.

Screenshot of the Facebook page dedicated to Professor Hamid.

(With inputs from PTI.)