Srinagar schools, madrasas directed to ensure children leave only with parents or authorised attendants

Srinagar: Authorities have issued a child-safety advisory to schools and madrasas across Srinagar, directing administrations to ensure that children are handed over only to their parents or authorised vehicle drivers/attendants and that young children are not allowed to leave the institutions alone.

The advisory asks school and madrasa administrations to exercise greater caution while handing over children after classes and ensure that no child is released to an unauthorised third person.

Parents have also been urged not to send small children to schools or madrasas alone and to take necessary precautions regarding their movement to and from educational institutions.

The advisory assumes added significance following the escape of two undertrial prisoners facing charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act from Central Jail Srinagar.

The two accused, identified as Farman Khan and Mukhtar Ahmad Gujar, allegedly escaped after scaling the front wall of the high-security prison, following which police launched a manhunt and issued wanted notices seeking information about their whereabouts.

Police have announced a reward for information leading to the arrest of the two escapees and appealed to people having information about their whereabouts to contact the nearest police station or dial 112.

The latest advisory emphasises the need for schools, madrasas and parents to exercise vigilance and ensure that children are not left vulnerable while commuting between their homes and educational institutions. [KNT]