Image courtesy: India Today
In yet another instance of an attack on minority identity in the Kashmir valley, a temple in Bhaderwah in Doda district was found vandalised leading to angry protests in some parts of Jammu and Kashmir. PTI reports that the police have registered a case in connection with the alleged vandalisation at a temple in Doda district here that sparked protests in some parts of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, officials said. The police action comes after some pictures of alleged vandalism at Lord Vasuki Nag temple, situated at 17,400 feet Kailash Kund, reportedly surfaced on social media, they said. “A police team has already been deputed in the snow-bound area to ascertain the facts,” a senior police official said.
Besides, a report in the Tribune also said that an FIR has been registered at the Bhaderwah police station for a thorough probe, the officer said, requesting people to maintain peace and law and order. The officer was quoted as saying that additional deployment has been made in sensitive areas as a precautionary measure in view of the protests in parts of the district. Shopkeepers observed a complete shutdown in response to a strike call given by Virendra Razdan, president of Shri Sanatan Dharam Sabha in Bhaderwah.
Razdan also led a protest to demand the identification of culprits and stern action against them.After the assurance of Doda DC Vikas Sharma and SSP Abdul Qayoom, protesters at Bhadarwah who had blocked roads at several places, including Domail, Sarol Bagh, Bhala, Seri Bazar, Gupt Ganga and Bhalra, suspended the stir after which shops were opened and traffic started plying normally.
Several residents of Bhaderwah condemned the act of vandalisation of the temple. “This is a heinous crime is aimed at vitiating the otherwise peaceful atmosphere and communal harmony in the district.” Sajid Mir, Sarpanch Kursari Panchayat was widely quote din the media saying, “We support the demand for a thorough probe to identify the culprits who have hurt the sentiments of a community and tried to trigger communal divide.
“They should be brought to book as we would not let anyone vitiate the peaceful atmosphere and communal harmony we are maintaining since ages.” J&K president of Shri Sanatan Dharam Sabha, Purushottam Dadhichi also led a protest in Jammu against the incident and demanded action against the culprits.
“We have gathered here to protest the vandalism at the revered Vasuki Nag temple in Bhaderwah. This is the handiwork of mischievous elements who wanted to create a rift in the society,” he said, demanding stern action against the culprits.
The Jammu and Kashmir’s Congress unit also expressed serious concern over the “mischievous act” done with a view to hurt religious sentiments and create hatred and trouble in the society. “The government should identify the culprits and give them stern punishment,” the party also said in a statement. The party cautioned people to be aware of the designs of “enemies of peace” and maintain harmony.
False Narrative of Normalcy
Meanwhile the Kashmir Pandit Sangharsh Samiti (KPSS) has been consistently challenging the administration and government’s claim of normalcy.
“ Every desperate try by Administration to claim that KashmiriPandits are in Kheer Bhawani Mandir, Tulmulla, Kashmir but the headline of the video and the visuals translates two different stories,” says the tweet.
Meawnhile, fear seems to reign among the families that remain in the Valley as this status on the Twitter handle of the Kashmir Pandit Sangharsh Samiti (KPSS) shows. “ Desperate to show world that normalcy is in Kashmir and we KPs are just collalateral damage to this success. Ruling party trying hard to bring KPs to Keer Bhawani, Asthapan, Kashmir. Despite cancellation requests, sozens of JKRTC vehicles are queued at different places in Jammu,” said the tweet.
Desperate to show world that normalcy is in Kashmir and we KPs are just collateral damage to this success. Ruling Party trying hard to bring #KPandits to Keer Bhawani Asthapan, Kashmir. Despite cancellation requests dozens of JKRTC vehicles are queued at different places in Jammu pic.twitter.com/Celll8SK7b
— KPSS (@KPSSamiti) June 7, 2022
Meanwhile, Greater Kashmir reports that minority students in Baramulla schools to get online teaching ’till normalcy prevails. A circular has been issued by the school education department to both government and private schools to provide academic support to students of minority community through virtual mode “till normalcy prevails in current situation”. This development comes days after the killing of a migrant school teacher, a non-local banker and a labourer in separate attacks in Kashmir.
In an official communication addressed to heads of five private schools and two government higher secondary institutions in Baramulla town, the Chief Education Officer (CEO) Baramulla has instructed the concerned school principals for compliance of the department’s decision.
The decision to provide online teaching to minority community (Sikhs/ Kashmiri Hindu) students has been taken so as to reconnect them with the activities being part of formal schooling till the normalcy in the current situation prevails, according to the circular.
“The education of students is of paramount importance for us. In this backdrop instructions are hereby issued to be adhered to in letter and spirit,” the official communication reads. The schools have been also been asked to prepare an immediate database of students and create class-wise Whatsapp groups besides using student-friendly virtual platforms for the conduct of online classes as a supplementary measure to normal schooling.
“Learning level Assessment of students in each subject should be conducted virtually through Google Form questionnaire or any other feasible virtual format and record of that be incorporated in learning level register,” the official document reads.
Following the issuance of this circular, the district education authorities have asked the school teachers to prepare their action plans for online teaching and e-materials as per their syllabus beforehand so that students understand concepts quiet easily. “Online presence of students be recorded on the attendance register,” it reads. The CEO Baramulla has further instructed the schools to submit the compliance report to this effect be submitted to CEO office within one day.
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