M A I N   N E W S

Kashmir teacher’s foot massage photo goes viral
Suhail A Shah

Anantnag, May 13
A government schoolteacher was on Monday suspended by the Jammu and Kashmir Education Department after his photograph, showing him relaxing in an office chair with students massaging his legs and feet, went viral on a social networking site.

The teacher, identified as Bashir Ahmad Bhat, is posted at Government Primary School in Kasnaad village. The photograph was uploaded by some local residents on Sunday evening on Facebook. Soon, it was shared by hundreds of users, prompting hurried action from Education Department officials. A team of the department today visited the school.

“We visited the school today and after a preliminary inquiry suspended the teacher in question,” said Zonal Education Officer (ZEO), Srigufwara Zone, Muhammad Abdullah Rather. He said a detailed inquiry has been initiated into the matter.

The locals alleged that the suspend teacher had been engaging students to do his chores. “He was earlier posted at Government Middle School, Harkhal. There, too, he used to make students do his personal work such as washing his car,” claimed a local youth. The locals have hailed the immediate action taken by the Education Department.

Govt suspends him

• A photograph of the primary school teacher, showing him relaxing in an office chair with children massaging his legs and feet, was posted on Facebook on Sunday evening
• The state Education Department swung into action on Monday and suspended the teacher
• Local residents alleged that the teacher was in the habit of engaging children to do his personal work