KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Unidentified armed militants shot dead the headmaster of a school in southern Afghanistan's Kandahar province on Thursday, spokesman for the education department of the province Nazar Mohammad Samimi said.

Several armed militants, according to the official, entered the house of Mohammad Gul Khan, the headmaster of a primary school in Panjwai district, Thursday morning and sprayed bullets on him before their escape.

Confirming the incident, the governor of Panjwai district Fazal Mohammad Ishaqzai pointed finger at the Taliban, saying the armed outfit could be behind the heinous crime to terrorize students and teachers.

Taliban militants shut down government-run schools in their controlled areas.