ATTOCK: An uneasy calm prevails in a private school in the village of Surag Salar after the death of two of its students in a firing incident targeting a school van earlier this month.

The village is about 25 kilometres south of Attock city, nestled in the foothills of the Kala Chitta mountain range, and is surrounded by corn fields in a lush green valley.

According to the principal of the school, there are about 270 children enrolled in the educational institution and the tragic killing of Rameen, 9, and Arwa, 10, shook the tightly-knit community to the core. He said a pall of gloom had spread over the village following the tragic killings.

Mohammad Rafiq – a resident of Dheri Kot – said the shooting occurred before the school timings and upon inquiry, his brother had informed that the van en route to his school had come under attack. He said the death of the children had impacted the entire village.

Teachers, classmates say school will not be the same without Rameen, Arwa

Rameen’s father, Mohammad Shafiq, said it was a big loss for their family, adding that his son was also injured in the incident. He said that his two children were still in trauma and spending sleepless nights after the incident.

Fazila Nasir, who teaches at the school, said Rameen was an active student in her class and it would be difficult for her to forget her energy and determination.

The classmates of Rameen said the classes were not the same without her and that they would sorely miss their friend.

Another student, Arwa Jamshaid, who died in the attack, was so attached to the school that she refused to leave it after her brother moved to a private school in Attock, said the principal.

Responding to a question, he confirmed that attendance had alarmingly dropped following the shooting as students were still reeling from the impact of the shooting.

It was a tragic incident in the Attock district and such an inhumane and barbaric incident never happened here before, claimed Deputy Commissioner Rao Atif Raza while talking to this reporter.

He said that although financial compensation could not bring the children back, the district administration would utilise all resources to help the families as well as provide justice to the bereaved families.

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2024