A young student, named Farhan, lost his life after allegedly being beaten by teachers at a seminary (madrassa) in the Chilyar area of Khwazakhela tehsil of Swat district. The tragedy has shaken the local community to the core. Following the incident, authorities moved in, sealing the seminary and handing over 300 students to their parents. District Police Officer (DPO) Swat, Muhammad Umar, confirmed the developments and called the incident "deeply saddening." “We acted promptly after receiving the report.

A case has been registered under police complaint, and so far, two of the four nominated suspects have been taken into custody. In addition, nine other individuals have also been arrested,” DPO Umar told reporters. He further revealed that the madrassa was operating illegally, raising serious questions about oversight and regulation of such institutions. “We will not bow to any political pressure. The investigation will continue and justice will be served as per the law,” he vowed. The central suspect, also named Muhammad Umar, remains on the run.

Local elders and residents took to the streets, blocking the main road connecting Kalam and Matta, demanding his immediate arrest along with all others named in the FIR. The tragic death has sparked public outrage. A large crowd gathered yesterday outside the religious institution, demanding justice for Farhan and strict action against those responsible. The incident has brought to light the urgent need for stronger checks on private religious schools, especially those operating without registration or proper oversight.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)