Kashmir unrest: JK Govt. to reopen schools in border areas from tomorrow

Srinagar [India], Nov. 14 (ANI): The Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to reopen schools in border areas from tomorrow which were closed in the wake of escalation of tension and subsequent increase in the incidents of Pakistani shelling last week. Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Dr.Pawan Kotwal told the media that decision has been considered based on the improvement in situation in border areas. Meanwhile, the annual Class 10th and 12th board examinations in the Valley began today and all arrangements were put in place for the smooth conduct of the examinations. Officials allayed fears of any trouble or inconvenience to the students appearing for the annual examinations. As per reports, around 480 examination centres were set up for about 48,000 Class 12 candidates, whereas nearly 550 examination centres were established for Class 10 candidates. State Education Minister Naeem Akhtar said he is hopeful that the examinations would be conducted in a peaceful atmosphere. The state government on November 1st had ordered closure of government schools in the border areas over repeated shelling and firing from Pakistan. On November 8th the Jammu and Kashmir High Court had ordered the government to rope in village education committees to curb the burning of schools in Kashmir. A division bench of Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar and Justice Ali Muhammad Magrey also directed the chief secretary to provide fire safety measures and adequate lighting around the schools, besides enhancing the wages of contingent paid workers so that they could discharge their duties as chowkidars. Since September 10, more than 30 schools have been burnt by unknown persons in Kashmir which has courted condemnation from various quarters. High Court too has stepped in by taking a suo moto cognizance of the matter. On October 31, the high court had directed the state government to take all preventive measures to save school buildings from burning by "mysterious enemies of education. A restive situation in the Kashmir Valley prevails since the killing of Jaish-e-Mohammed militant Burhan Wani on July 8. (ANI)