Excelsior Correspondent
MENDHAR, Sept 29: A Govt School teacher has been panelized for engaging 15 school boys in his own fields for cutting grass in tehsil Mendhar of district Poonch.
A senior police official said that as per dirty practice prevailing in the area for forcibly engaging school students for personnel works at home by the teachers, a Physical Education teacher was caught while forcibly engaging 15 students of 8th and 9th class of Govt High school Sagra and some from Govt HS Salwa for cutting grass in his fields.
After receiving a specific information, the SDM Mendhar, Romesh Kumar asked the SDPO Mendhar Surinder Choudhary to rush a team to the area. The SDPO himself along with force men rushed there and caught the teacher red handed. Some boys were cutting grass while a few were taking lunch at the field. The police team also made video and also captured photographs of the site showing students engaged at work.
The Physical Education teacher who had engaged these boys has been identified as Mohd Qasim, presently posted at Govt High School Sagra (Balnoi). He hails from Dharana area of Mendhar. The SDPO said that the students were frightened when the police party reached and tried to protect their teacher. But some of them disclosed that they were brought there forcibly. It was also learnt that this was usual practice in the area and even for construction and other domestic works, the school children are engaged during school hours as well.
The SDM recommended departmental action against the teacher to the Director Youth Services and Sports, Jammu and he asked the police to register an FIR in this connection against the teacher. It has been learnt that labour of the area charge Rs 450 to Rs 500 per day for cutting grass while some teachers just lure the students to give them good marks in exams and engage them in such personnel works forcibly. If some students do not obey, they are made to face the wrath of the teachers. The SDM has warned such teaching community members to desist from such acts otherwise, criminal cases would be registered against them.
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