Students, parents stage protest in Shopian, demand reopening of Jamia Siraj-ul-Uloom

Shopian, May 07: Hundreds of students and parents on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest in south Kashmir’s Shopian district, demanding the reopening of Jamia Siraj-ul-Uloom.

Carrying placards reading “Save Our Future,” students from different districts enrolled in the institution staged a sit-in protest outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner.

“We are demanding the reopening of our school. We believe in peace and want our education to continue,” said a Class 11 student participating in the protest.

The institution was declared an unlawful entity on April 24 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), based on a dossier prepared by the Senior Superintendent of Police, Shopian. The district administration subsequently barred the entry of unauthorised persons into the premises.

Zahid Ahmad, one of the protesting parents, said the future of hundreds of students was at stake.

“We request the administration to safeguard the future of these students,” Ahmad said.

Later, a delegation of parents met the Deputy Commissioner and urged the administration to intervene and facilitate the reopening of the institution.