J&K teacher suspended for making students massage his legs

A government school teacher in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district has been suspended after a photograph appeared online showing him relaxing on a chair as school children massaged his legs. Bashir Ahmad Bhat, posted as a government primary school teacher in Kasnaad area Khiram, was suspended yesterday after the photograph went viral on social networking site Facebook, triggering widespread criticism. There are varying versions of how the story got on Facebook in the first place. [caption id=“attachment_783623” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Image from IBN-Live[/caption] PTI said that the photograph was reportedly uploaded by villagers to highlight the misconduct and misuse of authority by Bhat, while Times of India reported that the photo had accidentally got uploaded to Facebook as the teacher fiddled with his phone. CNN-IBN reported however, that Bhat had intentionally uploaded the image on to the social networking site. The state education director has expressed horror at the incident. Times of India reported that the Jammu & Kashmir deputy chief minister Tara Chand had ordered an inquiry after it came to light that he obtains such favours regularly. “This is intolerable. The teacher, Bashir Ahmad Bhat, has been suspended and is under inquiry. Bhat is said to have been in the habit of getting his legs massaged by kids,” the deputy CM told the newspaper. ’ The report added: “The villagers at Khiram Gujran blamed Bashir Ahmad Bhat, and alleged that he made the kids wash his car as well. “Bashir Bhat would get his household chores done by students. He claims clout as he is close to a political party, said Khiram villagers” With inputs from PTI