20 March 2012

Under 16 Nuisance in Wangdue


There were two explosions in my school earlier this month and you must be wondering if I didn't hear them. Of course I heard them and I even gave my statement to police. But I didn't want to make it public so that police could do their job at peace. But now that the news has already been reported in two papers I see no harm in writing about it.
I have nothing different to tell from the story The Bhutanese and Kuensel covered but let me run the narrative as unfolded before me. At about this time, 11:40 on March 1, I was working right here when I heard the first blast. I ran to my window and surveyed the campus. Nothing was out of the ordinary. I was lost in my works again when I heard the second blast. After spotting nothing unusual, I thought it must have been army firing at Tencholing.
Only in the morning I found out that it was right at my friend's door. But even he didn't realize it was there until morning when he found his door latched from outside. Upon opening the door he found three sheets of warning notes pasted at his door and on the school notice board. We reported it to the police and police requested army to identify the remains of explosives. They concluded that the devices used were those used in construction works.
This ordeal raised two big questions: How did the explosives land in the hands of children? How safe are teachers in doing our duties? While the first question would be answered soon by the police, the latter shall remain unanswered. This incident has sent a wave of question across the teacher community and some were talking about thinking thrice before disciplining children. Our friend, who was attacked that night, is still weighing his moral duty as a teacher against his personal safety. He was our backbone when it came to keeping the students on track but now the backbone seems to be cracked even though the Dzongkhag education officers came here to give him and all of us their support.

As the story unfolds I was shocked to hear that two boys, who were arrested after they broke into a store, were the mastermind of the March 1st blasts (Read in Kuensel). I know the two boys for last four years, and one joined our school last February. They are chronic thieves and everybody in the town knows them by their name. They can break open the best locks and find cash from the safest corners. They seem to have the database of every dweller of the town because they know who is out at what time of the day. No matter how careful you are when they walk into your shop, you will always find something missing after they are gone. One time they were caught red handed and guess what, they assaulted the house owner and escaped. They are never worried about getting arrested, as long as they could run away and enjoy the cash, because they know that once the case is gone, it's gone.
Interestingly they were caught and arrested 90% of the times and been to jail almost every week but they were released because they are under 16, which they know and are taking advantage of. If they were kept locked up Bajothang is a better place altogether but even police is helpless. Now this time they have crossed their highest limit and I hope they won't roam freely among us.
I know they are just kids, they have dreams but they are not ready to change themselves yet. They are going bigger and bolder with time and forgiveness. They must undergo so sort of special correction before releasing them back among general public. This asks for Correction Camp of young lawbreakers. A prison where classes are taken so that inmates don't lag behind when they finally come out as good citizens because we can't afford to let them walk free if they are going to keeping having fun at the expense of public security.

6 comments:

  1. OMG! It looks like, the stealing has become a habit for them. It is more of like a play thing that they don't want to stop it. How are their parents dealing with them?

    I think we really need a security camera in the schools now.

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  2. Dear Passu, hope everything will be fine sooner. I commiserate with you about the recent incidents in your school..Do keep writing:)

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  3. Dear Sir,
    It is sad to learn about the incident in my almamater who has been churning out many good citizens in the last more than one and half decade. In the past too, we used to have mischievous friends which is part of growth i guess but not to that degree like the presence case where students dont know who their teacher is. having teachers like you, i hope the school will keep its name and fame. Many prayers and may the school continue to shine despite all the hurdles.

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  4. After this incident, it will for sure and very much seed hesitation and fear within those individual/teachers who with a big heart toils for others betterment and success. Hope this wont deprive and effect those lot of students who have real zest for learning.

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  5. The only option now seems to be to arrest them and send them to the Youth Development and Rehabilitation Center (YDRC), Tsimasham, Chukha, a "Correction Camp of young lawbreakers" in your words. Juvenile delinquents, as per the law, are sent there for rehabilitation and they're given vocational training alongside classes.

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    Replies
    1. Do we already have something called YDRC? I am sorry I didn't know. Then they have have a place to go for good. I don't know why this was not done for so long.
      Thanks for the information.

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