Shopian, Jul 23 (KNO): South Kashmir's Shopian town observed a complete shutdown on Wednesday in protest against the government’s decision to shift the Deputy Chief Education Officer (Dy CEO) office to Chitragam tehsil of the district, triggering widespread anger among locals, political leaders, and civil society.
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the protest, organised under the banner of the All Party District Development Forum Shopian, witnessed participation from a broad coalition of political parties, traders, transporters, students, fruit growers, and other sections of society. Shops and businesses remained closed for half a day, with leaders terming the move “politically motivated” and “administratively illogical”.
Prominent political figures, including MLA Shopian Advocate Shabir Ahmad Kullay, former MLA Aijaz Mir, Apni Party’s Advocate Gowhar, and BJP leader Raja Wasim, and DDC Raja Waheed, led the demonstration. Protesters assembled in the town centre and marched towards the office of the Deputy Commissioner, where they submitted a joint memorandum.
Speaking to reporters, MLA Kullay questioned the rationale behind displacing a vital office from the district headquarters and urged the government to focus on creating new zonal education posts in areas such as Zainapora, Turkwagam, Harmain, Kanjiullar, and Kapran.
Former MLA Aijaz Mir also opposed the move, saying, “If the aim was to enhance academic oversight in Chitragam, a separate post could have been created without dismantling the existing structure in Shopian.”
The protesters further demanded the establishment of a separate mechanical division for Shopian and the upgradation of infrastructure at the district hospital.
“The complete shutdown of trade and transport in Shopian reflects the widespread disapproval and anguish over this covert and malafide act of brazen illegality against the vital interests of the Shopian citizenry and its students,” reads the memorandum they submitted to DC Shopian.
According to the memorandum, the Dy CEO office had historically served as a crucial administrative unit, offering accessible public service, especially for residents in remote and hilly areas. “Its sudden and unjustified relocation has caused grave concern, particularly among students who rely on this centrally located office,” it read.
The forum asserted that no public consultation took place before the decision was made and called for an impartial inquiry into the matter. It also warned of long-term adverse impacts on the education sector in the district.
The memorandum concluded with three key demands that include immediate revocation of the order shifting the Dy CEO office to Chitragam, an impartial inquiry to evaluate the legality and necessity of the move and public assurance that future administrative decisions affecting public interest will involve stakeholder consultation.
The protest was called off peacefully after the submission of the memorandum, but the leaders warned of intensified agitation if their concerns were not addressed on time—(KNO)