SRINAGAR: India occupied Kashmir government has threatened five private schools in Anantnag district of derecognition for their refusal to participate in the upcoming January 26 Republic Day celebrations, over the security situation, Economic Times reported on Monday.
In this regard, a team of district administration officials after failing to convince owners of the schools to participate in the programme sealed a portion of the properties of three schools.
“This was a sort of warning. This is not sealing. We locked a portion of their properties. They cannot dictate terms. We are all living in the territory of this country and have to participate in the national festival. They cannot operate independently of the system. The future course of action depends whether they participate or not,” ET quoted a senior district official as saying.
The district administration remains under tremendous pressure from the government to manage participation and audience for January 26 program at respective headquarters.
“The deputy commissioner abused us even when we apprised him about the situation and unwillingness of parents to send their children to such functions. Who will be accountable if something happens to even one child? He even asked us to the better cross-border if we don’t participate,” an owner of the Smart Mission School was quoted as saying.
It may be mentioned here Joint Hurriyat leadership led by Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Yasin Malik have also called for a strike on January 26 and urged people to observe it as ‘Black Day.’ They have also advised people not to participate in any government function.
“We would participate in the function but situation has changed now. We have asked them to call all 40 to 50 schools in the area and then decide. We cannot take the risk,” said the owner of another school.
Anantnag Deputy Commissioner M Younis Malik said rejected the reports of any action against the schools, saying, “Nothing has happened. All these principals were sitting with me. Everything is fine.”
MILITANTS THREATEN SCHOOL PRINCIPAL FOR ‘FORCING’ GIRLS TO ATTEND EVENT:
Separately, in a video that has gone viral on social media, two masked gunmen barges inside the house of a school principal in Pulwama and questioned him about “forcing” girls to participate in the January 26 function.
Sheikh is the Principal at Girls High School Pulwama.
While threatening him, the militants tell the principal to apologise for “forcing” the girl students to attend the January 26 parade in the district.
The principal, however, denied forcing the girls to participate in the event.
“I am a government employee and only follow the orders from authorities,” the principal pleaded before the gunmen and assures them that from now, he will not tell anyone to attend the parade.
The militants then warn him saying, “We have our agents in the police department as well who are keeping a close eye on every movement.”
The gunmen also told the principal to “identify the madam who teaches dance to girls”.
Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh confirmed the incident to the media. When contacted, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Pulwama Mohd Aslam Choudary told reporters that the police have taken cognizance of the incident.
“Yes, militants are involved in the incident and we have launched an inquiry to identify them”, SSP said, adding that action as per law will be initiated against the militants involved in the threatening and beating of the principal.
