13 teachers detained in Kashmir for allegedly glorifying militancy

Videos doing the rounds on social media showed teenaged boys being encouraged to act as militants somewhere in the forests of Zandafaran.

The Jammu and Kashmir police recently detained 13 teachers of a private school in north Kashmir’s Baramulla town for allegedly glorifying militancy and motivating students to become future militants, according to officials with knowledge of the case.

Kashmiri protesters clashed with police on the outskirts of Srinagar after forces killed four militants, including Islamic State of Jammu and Kashmir (ISJK) chief Dawood Salafi during an encounter at Nowshera village in South Kashmir on Friday, June 22, 2018. (Waseem Andrabi/ Hindustan Times)

Eleven teachers were released after stern warning and intervention from senior citizens.

Last week, a video on social media showed how dozens of students of a private school in uniforms appeared to be ‘acting as militants’, said a police official linked to investigations in the case. The video was similar to those regularly released by militants to ‘showcase their achievements’ and lure the youth toward militancy, he said on condition of anonymity. The video was shot when the students were on a school excursion, the officer added.

In the video that has gone viral on social media, the students are being apparently encouraged by some teachers to perform and act as militants while other boys are playing songs eulogising the death of militants. The songs have been previously used by militants in propaganda videos, the police official said.

The police took serious note of the incident and detained all the teachers of the school after the video emerged. Chief education officer, Baramulla, Abdul Ahad Gania said he will get the matter investigated. “We are investigating the case and stern action will be taken against the school.” The school management, however, refused to comment on the matter.

“This shows how some teachers with vested interests whose mandate is to turn young boys into disciplined students and good citizens are encouraging them to take up guns,” said a police officer investigating the case in Baramulla.

A police officer said, who did not wish to be named, said the parents of the children in the video wanted the administration to intervene.

He said that two teachers are still in custody, as the police have recovered objectionable material from them. One of these teachers could have made the videos, he said.

Senior superintendent of police, Baramulla, Imtiyaz Hussain refused to comment on the matter. “We will brief the media shortly,” he said.