Zulfiqar’s links discouraged staff of government school to raise voice

Bipin Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 13

Following his links with higher ups in the UT Administration, staff members of Government High School, Sector 24A, from where Zulfiquar Khan, (the accuse in a sodomy case) ran his Theatre Age centre, did not dare to raise voice against his illegal activities for years.

Khan, a city-based theatre artiste, was running a Theatre Age centre from the old building of the school primary wing and had allegedly occupied six rooms, though he was allowed to run the centre from two rooms.

Probe revealed that Khan had been using nearly half of the premises of the High School and running classes, including theatre at the centre in the evening.

Since he had been receiving donations in cash and kind, and used to serve best quality food to slum students, the venue had become a favourite destination for the police and his other associates, a former employee of the school disclosed.

The centre and the playground of the government educational institutions were used for recording of short films and documentaries. Entry to the part of the school, housing the centre, was free for all.

Many IAS, HCS, PCS officers,other top brass from the UT Administration and many other good Samaritans from across the region had been visiting the centre quite often on his invitations and used to donate money, food grains, furniture and other goods, generously.

The centre was also used as a venue for organising night parties involving young students (boys and girls) on many occasions, some senior employees of the school said. A corner of the school playground was used as a kitchen garden by Khan.

Sources in the Education Department revealed that a couple of years ago, certain teachers had complained against his activities at the centre but the they could not do much. The employees of the school then turned a blind eye towards the centre, sources said.

Talking to The Tribune, the school Headmaster said that they were least concerned about the activities at the centre. A large number of people used to visit the centre, but they used one side of the main gate (always open) and we never encountered them, the Headmaster claimed.

On Sunday evening, Chanchal Singh, Deputy Director Public Instruction (DPI), visited the centre and took a stock of the rooms, the school head said.

Thought the Education Department had decided to seal the centre today but no official turned up for this till late this evening.

Neither, the DPI nor the Deputy DPI was available for comments till late this evening.