On Children's Day, Kerala CM calls for collective action to ensure safety of Palestinian children
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday emphasised the government's responsibility to protect the rights of children and called for concerted efforts to address the plight of Palestinian children affected in the ongoing conflict with Israel.
In a Facebook post on the occasion of Children's Day commemorating the birthday of India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, the chief minister underscored the dire situation faced by Palestinian children amid the war.
He urged collective action to ensure their safety and facilitate their rehabilitation.
Vijayan said that the availability of nutritious food, healthcare, and quality education are the inherent rights of every child born in the world.
Safeguarding these rights is a fundamental responsibility of governments, he said.
Highlighting the vision of the architects of the Constitution, including Nehru, the chief minister said that they envisioned an India where violence and exploitation against children would be eliminated.
He expressed deep concern about the atrocities against children globally, acknowledging the heart-wrenching impact of such incidents.
Drawing attention to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, the chief minister pointed to the distressing images of victimised children.
"As many as 4,609 children have been killed in Gaza alone in the Israeli attack against Palestine," he said.
The chief minister described the faces of the seriously injured and orphaned children as a scar in human consciousness.
Vijayan asserted that these tragedies will persist until Israel's aggression, supported by imperialist forces, comes to an end.
He called on progressive forces worldwide to unite and raise their voices against this injustice.
Vijayan also urged collective action to ensure the safety and rehabilitation of Palestinian children, making Children's Day a reminder of
this imperative.
The chief minister also took pride in declaring Kerala as a model for the entire country in terms of child rights.
In the Facebook post, he unequivocally stated that his government would not compromise in cases involving violence against children.
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Several Gurugram schools receive hoax bomb threats
Gurugram (PTI): Several Gurugram schools received another hoax bomb threat emails on Wednesday morning, prompting police to launch searches on the premises.
Police said the email was sent by the 'Khalistan National Army', with threats issued to Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini to declare April 29 as the "40th Khalistan Declaration Day". It also threatened to bomb the Red Fort in Delhi.
Police said it was a hoax as no suspicious items were found after an intensive search.
Several schools, including Shri Ram, Amity, and the HDFC school, received threatening emails at 8.33 am, when classes had already begun, police said.
The school administrations became aware of the threats around 9 am and immediately informed the police, a senior police officer said.
The schools immediately implemented emergency protocols, with many declaring a holiday and asking parents to take their children home safely, the officer said.
A large number of anxious parents gathered outside the schools, as police and bomb squad teams reached the spots and started checks.
"Around 10 schools have approached the police from morning until now over bomb threats. Police teams are alert, and searches are underway on all the premises", the officer said.
As soon as the information about this email was received, police in Gurugram and Delhi swung into action and started investigation.
Schools immediately implemented emergency protocols upon receiving the mail. Many schools declared a holiday and sent messages to parents, asking them to take their children home. Large crowds of parents gathered outside the schools.
The schools were sanitised by sending a bomb disposal squad as well as a dog squad.
A senior police officer said that police teams thoroughly searched the school premises, classrooms, buildings, and surrounding areas. No suspicious objects or explosive materials were found during the investigation.
"Police teams are seriously investigating the entire matter. Cyber experts are being consulted to determine the authenticity of the email, its source, and the identity of the sender", added the officer.
This is the third time since January that schools have received fake bomb threats.
In March, at least a dozen schools in the city received bomb threat emails, which later turned out to be hoaxes.
Similarly, on January 28, as many as 13 schools received hoax bomb threats via email, forcing authorities to evacuate campuses and suspend classes.
Last month, police arrested a Bangladeshi national whose email ID was allegedly used to make a bomb threat for some payment.
