Students flee to jungle after beating at Palghar school over fetching water; probe ordered
Palghar (PTI): A group of students of a government-run primary school in Maharashtra's Palghar district fled to a jungle after teachers allegedly beat them for failing to fetch water on time, an official said on Thursday.
The education department has launched an inquiry into the incident that occurred at a zilla parishad school in the Jambulmatha area of Jawhar earlier this week, the official said.
The incident has come in the backdrop of the death of a Class 6 student who was allegedly forced to perform 100 sit-ups for arriving late to a school in the district.
Parents of the affected students on Wednesday submitted a memorandum to the zilla parishad alleging that the teaching staff had sent students to fetch water from a source located approximately one kilometre away, and beat them when they returned late.
Distressed by the beating, a group of students fled the school premises and sought refuge in a jungle nearby, they claimed, demanding strict action against teachers involved in the incident.
"The zilla parishad has initiated a probe into the allegations, and appropriate action will be taken based on the report. Teams have already gone to the school," said Sonali Matekar, education officer (Primary) of the zilla parishad.
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Pak, Afghan forces trade fire along Chaman border: Report
Islamabad (PTI): A heavy exchange of fire between Pakistani and Afghan forces was reported from the key Chaman border, according to a media report on Saturday.
Injuries were reported from the district hospital, but no fatalities occurred, the Dawn newspaper reported.
Officials from both sides accused each other of instigating the flare-up late on Friday night across the border in the Balochistan province.
While Pakistani officials said that Afghan forces had fired mortar shells on the Badani area, Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid claimed it was Pakistan that launched an attack on Spin Boldak, alleging that their forces were responding.
Pakistan's official sources told Dawn that Pakistani forces retaliated against the Afghan aggression and returned fire.
There were also reports of fighting on the Chaman-Kandahar highway, but these could not be immediately verified.
A senior official in Quetta confirmed on condition of anonymity that the exchange of fire started around 10 pm and continued until late at night.
The medical superintendent of Chaman district hospital said that three injured, including a woman, were brought to the medical facility.
There was neither any official word from the Inter-Services Public Relations -- Pakistan Army's media wing -- nor from the Foreign Office.
The Chaman border crossing, also known as Friendship Gate, connects Balochistan province to Afghanistan’s Kandahar.
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have deteriorated amidst regular allegations by Pakistan regarding the failure of the Afghan regime to deny safe havens to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan terrorists.
The two countries had agreed on a ceasefire following tensions last month, but the Foreign Office said last month that technically there was no truce as it was contingent on the Afghan Taliban stopping terrorist attacks in Pakistan, which they had failed to do.
