By Fazal Khaliq
SWAT: A heartbreaking incident occurred on Monday evening in the Chaliyar village of Tehsil Khwazakhela, Swat, where a young seminary student was allegedly killed after being subjected to severe physical violence by his teachers.
According to Khwazakhela police, the student, identified as Farhan, was reportedly beaten mercilessly by three madrassa teachers after being absent from the seminary for several days. The child was rushed to a local hospital following the assault but was declared dead upon arrival.
Moin Fayaz, spokesperson for the District Police Officer (DPO) Swat, confirmed that an FIR has been registered against three suspects — Muhammad Umar, his son Ehsanullah, and another individual named Abdullah. Police have arrested Abdullah, while efforts to apprehend the father and son are ongoing.
“A thorough investigation is underway, and justice will be served,” said the police spokesperson, adding that the incident has sent shockwaves through the community, sparking widespread outrage over the unchecked authority of some religious institutions and the safety of children under their supervision.
Students from the same madrassa have come forward with disturbing eyewitness accounts. “Farhan was absent for a few days, and when he returned, our three teachers began beating him in front of all of us,” said a frightened student while speaking to Dawn. “They later took him into a side room and continued the beating for a long time.”
The same student recalled being called by one of the teachers to bring water. “Farhan drank some water, then rested his head in my lap and went unconscious,” he said.
Upon losing consciousness, the student was immediately taken to the hospital by both teachers and classmates, where doctors pronounced him dead.
The incident has sparked a renewed debate on corporal punishment in religious schools and the need for regulatory oversight to ensure the protection and well-being of children across all educational institutions in the region.
