11 Held Over Student’s Death at Unregistered Seminary

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Eleven individuals have been remanded in police custody in connection with the death of a 12-year-old student at an unregistered religious seminary in Chaliyar village, Khwazakhela tehsil, Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A judicial magistrate in Khwazakhela ordered a two-day physical remand on Thursday following their arrests.

According to police, the student, identified as Farhan, was allegedly beaten by teachers on Monday evening after returning from an absence. He was taken to a nearby hospital by fellow students and teachers, but medical staff pronounced him dead on arrival.

Law enforcement confirmed that the detainees include the head of the madrassa, the administrator, and several instructors. The madrassa was operating without official registration. Police said two suspects named in the FIR, Qari Mohammad Umar and his son Ehsanullah, remain at large, and search operations are ongoing to apprehend them.

Swat District Police Officer Mohammad Umar Khan stated that dedicated teams had been deployed to pursue the fugitives. “We have obtained critical leads and expect to arrest the remaining suspects shortly,” he told local media.

The incident has sparked widespread condemnation and renewed scrutiny of unregistered religious institutions. Rights groups and community members have expressed outrage, with some staging protests to demand accountability and regulatory reforms.

Authorities have not released further details about the deceased child’s family but confirmed he was enrolled at the seminary where the incident occurred. The facility has since been sealed by police, and more than 160 children residing there have been returned to their families.

While no public statement was found from Maulana Hussain Ahmad, other religious leaders, including representatives from Wifaqul Madaris, have condemned the incident and expressed support for a transparent investigation. They urged the public and media not to generalize the actions of individuals to all religious seminaries.

Police have pledged to ensure that those responsible are held accountable under the law. “The investigation is proceeding swiftly. Justice will be served,” said a spokesperson from the Swat police.

The case has renewed calls for stronger oversight and registration of all educational institutions to prevent such tragedies in the future.