Day after nation's top security agencies swooped in and imposed high alert on Uran on the word of two teens from local school, their principal said that she has complete faith that both students were telling the truth
Face cover student at Uran police station who saw four suspecious at Uran education society school in Uran. Pics/Atul Kamble
Uran: A day after the nation's top security agencies swooped in and imposed high alert on the coastal town of Uran on the word of two teenagers from the local school, their principal said that she has complete faith that both students were telling the truth about seeing armed men talk about launching a terror attack.
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Yesterday, mid-day had reported how a high alert was sounded across the entire state after a Std X student spotted a group of heavily armed men on her way to school at 6.30 am. The 16-year-old was terrified to see the men lurking about in a suspicious manner, while talking about blowing up buildings, including her own school, Uran Education Society. Soon enough, this information was confirmed by another student – a 17-year-old boy in the first year of junior college, who had also seen the armed men.
Security forces comb through Uran looking for the suspects
Although the suspected militants have not been found yet, principal Swati Shiralkar (38) said she was sure that the kids were telling the truth and credited them for giving the national security forces an advantage is thwarting an attack. The two students are now under the protection of NSG commandos while they are interrogated by different security agencies. Sketches of the suspects have also been prepared with their help.
Also read: First we will blow up school, then ONGC, Uran student overheard suspect
"I believe my students and trust what they have told the authorities. If their tip-off had not been true, then the police and other security agencies would not have them seriously and launched such a massive search operation to look for the suspects," said Shiralkar, adding, "I appreciate them for being alert and quickly informing the teachers about what they saw, which resulted in the investigation agencies taking a quick step and declaring alert in Mumbai and adjoining areas. I will felicitate both students on Republic Day for their alertness."
Principal Swati Shiralkar
Shiralkar also told this reporter that she had questioned the students thrice herself, before reaching out to the police. And, each time, the students stuck to their version. A teacher and supervisor also questioned them and got the same answers.
"Uran Education Society is well known for discipline. I have been teaching for more than 15 years and have been the principal since the last two years, but have never experienced such an incident. However, as teachers, we can easily tell whether a student is lying just from their eyes," added Shiralkar.
Also read: Terror alert in Uran: Cops release sketch of suspect spotted by students
Thorough checks
Around 7.30 am, the girl was the first to be questioned by Shiralkar, after which the principal decided to inform teachers and students about the potential threat. "A few of our teachers informed the students of FYJC commerce, and one of the students confirmed that he too had seen a suspicious man roaming around the mountains at 7 am," she said.
The school management then thought that the two kids may have colluded and come up with the story, but after double and triple checks, they could not find any connection between the girl and boy. Neither were they in the same class, nor did they live nearby.
"The girl is a Maharashtrian student in Std X, and the boy is a south Indian in FYJC Commerce. Neither are they in touch nor do they know each other," said Shiralkar, adding, "Both of them are from well-to-do families and don't have any history of misbehaviour in school. Also, both of them are disciplined students and perform well. The teachers, too, said that they don't doubt either student."
"Once the teachers were satisfied that the students were telling the truth, it was time to jump into action. Shiralkar informed the local police immediately. When they hadn't heard anything for a while, the teachers and students began to relax under the assumption that the whole thing was just a drill. But by noon, an alert was declared and a massive search operation was launched to find the masked militants.
Since then, the two students and Shiralkar have been questioned multiple times by different investigation agencies, including the Intelligence Bureau, Anti-Terrorism Squad, local police and crime branch, the Navy including others.
School remains shut
"We couldn't just leave the students in a state of panic. We had to handle the situation, so we tried to maintain calm. We received numerous calls from parents and told them not to worry. By 3 pm, all the students had vacated the school," recalled Shiralkar.
Yesterday as well, most schools and colleges remained shut due to the state-wide alert. "We declared a holiday on Thursday itself. A meeting was held for teachers and management on Friday, where the facts were narrated to all the teachers so that they do not panic unnecessarily. We believe the investigation agencies will find a result," said Shiralkar.
3,200
Students in Uran Education Society
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