Students imitate ultras in video, teachers detained

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 16

The J&K Police detained nearly a dozen teachers of a private middle school in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district after a video showing students imitating militants during a picnic surfaced on social media.

A police officer said: “No case could be filed against the management and teachers but we will recommend the education department to derecognise the school.” The officer said such incidents brainwash the children.

Meanwhile, an official of the education department in Baramulla said the matter would be investigated.

“We have formed a committee to probe the issue and a stern action will be initiated against the school,” the official added.

The incident came to notice of the police last week, when a video of some schoolchildren from the Zandfaran area in Baramulla district surfaced on social media, in which they were imitating militants and songs were being played in the background eulogising death.

In the video, the children in school uniform can be seen singing some songs and enacting movements such as diving, ducking fire and taking positions. Though the teachers are not visible in the video, however, their voices can be heard in the background.

“During the investigation, we came to know that it was during a picnic that the video was shot. We called the teachers and the management of the school who were allowed to go after a strict warning,” a police officer said.

The police said the teachers were severely reprimanded for “glorifying militancy”.

Meanwhile, a resident of the area where the school is housed said the children appeared to be enacting a play just for entertainment.

“I watched the video, it does not appear incriminating,” the resident added.