Srinagar, Oct 3: After some legislators including Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti alleged that police and army were monitoring attendance in schools in North Kashmir, the state government Sunday assured the security of students and directed the security agencies and police not to enter into the school premises during the working hours.
According to reports, at several places in the Valley troopers and police were, allegedly, checking the attendance in educational institutions after government decreed students to attend schools and not heed the strike calls of Hurriyat.
 The minister for school education, Peerzada Muhammad Sayeed said security forces have been directed not to enter into the school premises. “Security forces are not allowed to cross the school gate. They have been asked to remain present outside schools to provide security to students from any attacking mob,” he said. Peerzada said forces and police were not allowed to check the attendance or enter into class rooms.
 “I assure if I will get any complaint of such a sort I will take appropriate and immediate action,” he said.
 On Sept 27, the checking of attendance by men in uniform had triggered suspense among the teaching and non-teaching fraternity in educational institutions across the Valley. Cops were seen checking the attendance of students and teachers, and also seizing arrivals at many places. Group of teachers in Ganderbal had alleged that police barged into schools to check the attendance.
 Even teachers in Education Zone Wagoora and district Budgam had alleged that police had seized the attendance of two schools in the area.
 The academicians had taken a serious exception to police barging into educational institutions. “It (attendance checking) is not the job of the police but officials in the Education Department,” said Zahida, a teacher in a school in Wagoora area.
 Interestingly, the Senior Superintendent of Police, Srinagar, was seen visiting some of the schools alongwith the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar to ascertain the attendance of students and teachers.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 3 Oct 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 3 Oct 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 4 Oct 2010 00:00:00 IST