23 schools burnt in three months, but no arrests

Rifat Mohidin

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 26

Who is burning schools? This is the question everyone is asking these days in the troubled Valley as 23 school buildings have been set on fire by unknown persons in over three months of the ongoing unrest.

In the last two days, three government schools were set ablaze in mysterious circumstances in Srinagar city, Anantnag and in Bandipora district.

Director General of Fire and Emergency Services Department RS Sodhi admitted that “there has been a rise in last three months in fire incidents in schools” and investigation was going on in the police department to ascertain the cause.

In south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, unknown persons have set seven schools on fire taking the advantage of the unrest. “It’s a mystery. The miscreants are setting schools on fire during night. The police are on the hunt to nab these miscreants who don’t want our children to go to school. It is a catastrophe. It is a holocaust,” said Chief Education Officer, Kulgam, Rouf Shahmiri.

He said the authorities were now keeping a vigil on schools and all stakeholders were keen on safeguarding them. “The schools will take years to rebuild the infrastructure, 2,000 students are enrolled in these schools. It will impact the overall schooling of the children” Shahmiri said.

Parents too are worried about such incidents as it has raised the safety concerns of their wards. So far, seven schools have been completely damaged in fire across the Valley.

“It is our children whose career is at stake. The government must identify these people. If tomorrow our children will go to schools, who will ensure their safety,” said Ghulam Muhammad, a parent in Srinagar.

Every part in the Valley has been affected. In Budgam, three high schools have been partially burnt. “It is alarming. The people who are behind it don’t want peace in Kashmir. Offices are being burnt as well. We have sought the help of the police,” said Director School Education Kashmir Aijaz Ahmad.