M S Nazki
MENDHAR, Sept 29: In what can be construed as the best example of exploitation at the hands of their "modern day gurus", 15 students of a government school were yesterday found engaged by their teacher in his fields at Dharana here to cut grass. The incident has turned locals against the teacher, with some of them demanding action against him under law. Some time back, some teachers in a government school in Kathua had taken the work of cooks from students. Mohammad Qasim is a physical education teacher in government high school, Sagra, which falls in Mankote area. SDPO, Mendhar, Surinder Choudhary was yesterday contacted by some locals who told him that Qasim had engaged some students of his school to work in his fields. Acting on the tip-off, the SDPO rushed to the spot and found a total 15 students working in the fields. Soon thereafter, he took their photographs and asked them to go homes. Qasim was also questioned. These students belonged to government high school, Sagra, and government high school, Salwa. Four of them were identified as Mohammad Aiyaz, Wasim Khan, Mashooq Hussain and Mohammad Shafiq, all 9th class students of government high school, Sagra. The SDPO said he had written to Chief Education Officer (CEO), Poonch, for taking a departmental action against Qasim. SDM, Mendhar, Romesh Kumar said he had already asked police to register an FIR against the teacher. Deputy CEO, Mendhar, Mohammad Azam Choudhary expressed his ignorance about the matter, saying that he was not in the town. |