Reprehensible act.

It was a reprehensible and disgusting act on the part of a policeman who opened fire at a school in Swat. The unfortunate incident led to the killing of a schoolgirl, and resulted in severe injuries to at least six students, and a teacher. The only consolation is that the insane constable has been arrested. This tragedy must not be seen in a superficial sense as an isolated attempt on the part of a deranged person, but sociopathic efforts made to read into the mindset of such people in our midst, especially those entrusted with guarding the people. It could be an outcome of rigid readings in our society on girl children going to school, or women at work, in our otherwise conservative society. There are instances of similar tragedies from neighbouring Afghanistan where radicalism paves the way for jingoistic tendencies.

Swat school's firing has come immediately after a similar tragic incident at another school in Parachinar's picturesque Shalozan area at Teri Mengal bordering Afghanistan. Eight people, including five teachers, lost their lives. Khurram Agency and Swat's incidents must be...