Shopian, May 7: Hundreds of students and parents of Siraj-ul-Aloom Institute staged a protest at the Mini Secretariat in Shopian on Thursday, demanding reopening of the institution and expressing concern over the academic future of students following its closure.
The protesters, including students preparing for board examinations, said the shutdown of the institute had disrupted studies and created uncertainty among families.
“We want to continue our studies. This is a crucial time for us as board examinations are approaching,” a student, Ifnan Ahmad, said during the protest.
Parents also appealed to the administration to reconsider the decision and allow the institution to resume functioning.
“We request the administration to revoke the ban because the future of our children is at stake,” a parent said.
Meanwhile, Shopian MLA Shabir Ahmad Kullay visited the protest site and interacted with the students and their parents.
Speaking to reporters, MLA Kullay as per news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS) said the government had repeatedly warned the management of the institution over the past two years regarding alleged anti-national and unlawful activities, but the management failed to respond appropriately.
He said while such activities cannot be tolerated, the future of innocent students should not suffer because of the actions of the management.
“The closure of the institute is unfortunate, but the management’s failure forced the government to act. The students’ academic future must be protected and the institution should be reformed on modern educational lines,” the MLA said.
MLA Kullay said he would take up the matter with the government and senior officials to ensure that students do not face academic losses.
Deputy Commissioner Shopian Shishir Gupta also met a group of parents during the protest and assured them that arrangements would be made for admission of affected students in nearby schools, according to parents who attended the meeting.
A parent who participated in the meeting said the deputy commissioner directed the Chief Education Officer to facilitate a smooth and hassle-free admission process for the students.
The closure of the institute has triggered concern among students and parents in the district, particularly those appearing in board examinations this year.(KNS)
