Police in Indian-controlled Kashmir register cases against Educational Board over graphic sketch

Police in Indian-controlled Kashmir register cases against Educational Board over graphic sketch
Police in Indian-controlled Kashmir has registered a case of sedition and defamation against the region's Educational Board, officials said Tuesday.

A graphic sketch of a mustached man wielding a stick in school text book for standard-I warranted the case against top officials of Board of School Education (BOSE) including publishers and writer. The graphic is described in Urdu word as "zaalim" ( oppressor in English).

Officials claim the sketch resembles policeman.

The sketch in question is on the page 51 of the Urdu book Baharistan (spring land) prescribed for students of standard-I in government and privately-run schools. "The case stands registered against all those who are associated with this book," said Shalindera Mishra, police officer who investigates the case."We have recorded statements of some people and we have also summoned the chairperson of the BOSE.

Mishra said the book has "misrepresented"a section of a community. "The book is being taught at standard-I and it could impact impressionable minds," the officer said.

Police have registered the case under sections 124-A RPC ( sedition), 120-B RPC (criminal conspiracy), 502 RPC (defamation) and 504 RPC (provocation with intent to breach peace) against all those associated with the publishing of the book.

However, the BOSE chairman described the police case as unfortunate. "It is not a depiction of a policeman at all," said BOSE chairman Shiekh Bashir. "We have seen the book and we haven't found the depiction is that of a policeman."

Bashir said some of his officers have recorded their statement before the police and he too is ready to record his statement.

"I don't think the sketch can hurt anyone but still we have given directions that the book should be recalled and the picture be deleted," Bashir said.

BOSE is responsible for prescribing syllabi, publication of books and conducting of yearly exams up to under graduate level.

Last year, police booked and arrested a lecturer in a government-run college for setting up "controversial" and anti- government question paper.

The question has highlighted alleged atrocities of police and paramilitary troops in the region during 2010, they said.

A separatist movement is going on in Indian-controlled Kashmir with separatists demanding the end of New Delhi's rule.

Editor: Xiong Tong

English.news.cn   2011-12-20 19:42:23              
SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Dec. 20 (Xinhua)