School staff thrashes 3 women journalists, 4 photojournalists
While schools across Kashmir Valley remain shut keeping in view the harsh weather conditions, a play school, BUBBLES not only continues to run their operations but also take toddlers for a ride.
A Parry Pora based play school on Friday takes kids to camps and tours’ on Christmas in Srinagar. In a bizarre incident, the authorities not only violate the government order but leave one toddler at a Holy family Catholic Church. While the Principal along with her staff take out their further programme, a 3-year old baby, Eyon was crying at Church premises at Maulana Azad Road, Lalchowk.
Some local scribes, who were at the Church premises, were amazed after finding out the child. They continuously asked as to why the kids were taken to church when all other kids are enjoying winter vacations.Reports said that on Christmas, authorities of a private school from Hyderpora Srinagar (name withheld) had brought little children to Holy Family Catholic Church at Moulana Azad Road. Reports added that the school authorities forget to pick up a four year old child after the Christmas celebrations were over. The child after wandering from here and there inside the Church was located by a journalist.
Some of the journalists informed CNS that as they were on way to Police Station Kothibagh to handover the child to authorities there, the School principal arrived and tried to take control of the child. “We refused to hand over the child to the Principal of the School and tried to know her motive of bringing little children to Church. During the argument, she hit a female scribe,” they alleged and added that the child was finally handed over to Kothi Bagh Police Station who after verification handed him over to the Principal of the school.
The eyewitness said that the three female journalists were at the church. They saw the baby and spoke to him. ‘Out of courtesy’ they contacted the school authorities. After waiting for a long time, the principal came to the church.
“We were working on our story at the church to cover Christmas. We noted that a kid was alone there. We took care of him and contacted the school. They came back after about 3 hours. We needed a proof as we were in charge of the baby at that time,” The female journalists, working with a local newspaper told. “We were trying to ensure that he was going in the right hands.” “Had she called his (baby’s) parents then and there, police involvement wasn’t necessary”, they added. Another journalist said, “When they asked her (principal) to contact parents of the baby in front of them, she refused. She bit and punched them. They then called us.”
“When we were shooting, she literally hit us and snatched our cameras. She snatched my equipment and banged it. I took her phone and broke it”, said a journalist from a reputed newspaper organization. “I cannot tell you what all she said. It’s shameful. She’s lady and even I was embarrassed as to the way she abused us,” he added.
Meanwhile when the photographers, working with the local newspapers, who were also on the assignment, intervened. The school administration thrashed them too, creating bizarre scenes at the church on Christmas. one photojournalist, Farooq Shah was thrashed by the staff of the BUBBLES for shooting the pictures at the scene.
“This is such bizarre incident. Instead of thanking the journalists, they (school administration) thrashed us for carrying out assignment,” Shah said.
We tried to contact ‘Eyon’s’ parents to confirm if there were actually informed about the ‘tour’ or ‘camp’. However, the police officials didn’t provide the contact information and assured the crowd of journalists that they have verified the issue.
‘Probably the parents today are not ready to be parents. This wouldn’t have happened if the baby was with his parents.” an eye witness told . “There was no need for them to go to religious places at an age when they should be learning how to walk and talk”, he added.
The principal, who is a sister of National Conference provincial spokesperson, Junaid Mattu, refused to reveal her name, saying they were on a ‘camp’. She didn’t divulge any details on the incident.
“This is just a story for you. I don’t have a story,” she said in a chocked voice. After sometime, Junaid Azim Mattu, came to ‘rescue’ his sister. He said, “There are many other issues. It’s not an issue.” He also said that the school was on the go since morning and had visited places like Jamia Masjid. He later apologized to the journalists on behalf of his sister.
Denying all allegations, she accused the journalists of lying. The police officials, KothiBagh spoke to the ‘Eyon’s parents on phone. Though the principal claimed to have notified the parents about a ‘note in diary’ regarding ‘a visit to religious places’, we observed that the parent on the other side of the call was not at all aware of it as the principal continuously said, “ap ne shayad dhiyan nahi diya hoga (You might have missed out on it. We have notified it in the diary)”.
Confirming the incident, a police official said that the lost child was located by a journalist who refused to hand him over to the Principal of the school. “After verification and talking to the parents of the child, we handed him over to the Principal of the private school,” officials said.
