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The J&K education department has ordered an inquiry after a video showed Doda schoolchildren singing “Khoon se tilak karo, goliyon se aarti” during assembly.(File photo)
A video purportedly showing a teacher conducting the morning assembly at a government school in Doda, and children singing ‘khoon se tilak karo, goliyon se aarti’ in the background, has prompted authorities to intervene in Jammu and Kashmir’s Chenab region.
The education department has constituted a three-member committee to enquire into the incident and directed that the teacher’s salary be withheld until the inquiry is completed.
The enquiry was ordered after a local social activist, Raja Shakeel, filed a complaint with the Chief Education Officer (CEO) Doda, alleging that young students are being exposed to “extremist and violent” teachings.
“A viral video has surfaced on social media platforms, notably on the Facebook page of Er Raja Shakeel (social activist), depicting students of Government Middle School (GMS) Sichal reciting a prayer deemed inappropriate for minors,” reads the inquiry order issued by CEO Doda, Iqbal Hussain. “A formal written complaint has also been received from the aforementioned activist, raising concerns about the psychological impact of such content in young children.”
The video purportedly shows boys and girls as young as six singing during the morning assembly: Pukarti Ma Bharti, khoon se tilak karo, goliyon se aarti (Mother India is calling. Mark your forehead with blood and use bullets to worship). Showing the morning assembly in the background, the teacher purportedly says, “Today is November 6, and there has been a new classification (students enrolled in new classes after results) in Government Middle School Sichal. You can see the scenes, the children have come to school, and the morning assembly is in progress… Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.”
The department constituted a committee comprising three higher secondary school principals.
“In view of the seriousness of the matter, an inquiry committee… is hereby constituted to conduct a thorough investigation and submit its factual report to this office within two days, along with specific comments and recommendations,” reads the order.
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Speaking to The Indian Express, Doda CEO Hussain said, “We acted immediately and formed a committee. We have withheld his salary and will decide about any action only after the enquiry report is submitted.”
The Doda district, which is part of the Chenab region, is seen as a communally sensitive area with Muslims comprising around 53 per cent and Hindus around 47 per cent.
Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter. ... Read More
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