Another school was set on fire in Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir today, becoming the 31st school in the Valley to be burnt in last four months.
According to news agency ANI, the flames have been doused and police have registered a case in the matter.
Besides schools, over 100 government buildings have also been damaged in Kashmir since the current unrest that was triggered on July 9, a day after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.
PTI reported that among the schools, which were set ablaze by unknown persons, 25 were government-run, two private and four were run by trusts or other social organisations.
Out of the 110 government buildings, 65 were either completely gutted or partially burnt down and 55 were damaged through ‘other means’.
The Special Investigating Team (SIT) of Jammu and Kashmir Police has so far arrested 14 people in connection with the burning down of schools. The crack down came in the wake of the students gearing up to take the class 10 and 12 exams slated for second week of November.
Meanwhile, an uneasy calm prevailed along the International Border and LoC as border villages remained empty and schools closed.
Schools in border villages vulnerable to Pakistan shelling also remained closed.
Authorities ordered 174 schools near the IB in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts to remain shut.
At least 400 schools along the IB and the LoC are reportedly affected in the Pakistan shelling of civilian areas.
