SRINAGAR: Three teachers from a CBSE affiliated school in southern Kashmir Shopian which has allegedly produced 13 terrorists, including a teenager involved in the Pulwama attack, they were arrested on Monday and booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA) for “indoctrinating and inducing their students to make the war against the state. ”
IGP (Kashmir range) Vijay Kumar said that Jamia Sirajul Uloom High School, a well-known institution that retained its seminary roots even as it transitioned to formal education, had been under scanner for some time due to its alleged association with the forbidden Jamiat. -e-Islami.
Sajjad Bhat, the terrorist whose car was used in the Pulwama suicide attack in February 2019 that killed 40 CRPF staff, had studied at this school before disappearing. The 17-year-old died in an encounter a few months later.
The three teachers accused of trying to turn the school into a terror factory have been identified as Abdul Ahad Bhat, Rouf Bhat and Mohammad Yusuf Wani. In addition to the PSA, they have been slapped with cases under Section 107 of the CrPC, which deals with the breach of the peace.
“Another five to six teachers at the school are under surveillance for their conduct,” the IGP said. “Right now, we are taking action against the people, but if the need arises, we will also initiate action against the school.”
Muhammad Yousuf Matoo, President Jamia Sirajul Uloom, refuted allegations that the school is operating under the radar as an indoctrination center for future terrorists. Dismissing the arrested trio, he said none of them were a teacher at the school.
On the fact that the student Sajjad was named among the main defendants in the Pulwama bombing, Matoo said that the institution should not be blamed for the wrongdoing of a former student. “We had no role in that. Sajjad, who according to the police was involved in the attack, had been a student here for only a few months. He worked as a mechanic before joining the terrorist ranks. How can it be assumed that we did? Do that?”
The majority of the institution’s students come from the terrorist-infested Kulgam, Pulwama, Anantnag and Shopian districts. IGP Kumar said that several terrorist groups had recruited local cadres through a teachers’ section at the school.
Challenging the police to prove the allegations, the school president said: “Our institute is recognized by the J&K government. The NCERT curriculum is taught here. Kashmir University. We are open to answer all questions. Any media group can come and ask about our teaching methods and other matters. Anyone can check out our finances and curriculum resources. We are registered with the income tax department. ”
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