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Indo-Canadian school principal killed
By Ajit Jain in Toronto
July 08, 2007

A 40-year-old Indo-Canadian school principal from Burnaby (British Columbia) has reportedly been murdered, only 5 days after she got married.

Local police have ruled out the involvement of her husband, Paul Cheema, in the crime.

Police Corporal Dale Carr was quoted by CanWest News Service as saying that the victim's husband has been co-operative with police throughout the investigation, adding that he was himself treated in hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

Her husband says Shemina was killed in the home invasion at their home on Thursday.

Based on information provided by Paul, Police believe there are three suspects -- one of them being a tall Caucasian man in a brown suit, another a dark-skinned man wearing a ski mask. So far, there has been no description of the third suspect.

So far police have not been able to identify the suspects.

Shemina, also known by her maiden name, Hirji, had been the principal of a school in Surrey, BC, since 2005. She's an Ismaili and wrote her Master's thesis on the role of Sikh teachers in the British Columbia school system. 

Her death is 'a big shock,' said Arris Meghji, secretary for the Ismaili Council of British Columbia. He reportedly described the victim as 'a great person, very gentle and very compassionate.'

Ajit Jain in Toronto
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