5 teachers punished as school found locked

Excelsior Correspondent
MENDHAR, Nov 8:  The Sub-Divisional Administration  punished five teachers of a Govt Middle School  in Harni area of district Poonch as the school was found locked during mid day today.
The action in this regard was taken by the SDM Mendhar after some locals of the village rang up the office of  SDM, Mendhar Ranjit Singh and told that Govt Middle School, Bhata Dhurian in Harni area was locked and no teacher was present in school. They also told that this was routine affair of the teachers posted there and the studies of their children were badly hit. They said concerned Zonal Education Officer was least bothered as the matter was also brought to his notice some time back and they suspect nexus within the system.
Acting on the public complaint, the SDM Mendhar sent a team of officials led by a Naib Tehsildar to the village. They found school locked at 11.30 am. The team also talked to the Panchayat members, locals villagers and children of the school as well. It was found that five teachers were posted in this Govt school but none of them was present. Some children were found waiting for their teachers outside the school.
The team then submitted a report to the SDM, recommending action against the teachers- Mehmood Ahmed, Gulfraz Ahmed, Saima Begum, Shamim Akhtar and Iram Andleeb. The Sub Divisional Magistrate charge-sheeted these teachers, withheld their salary and recommended their suspension to the Director School Education, Jammu and CEO Poonch. The departmental action was yet awaited.