Srinagar/New Delhi: A day after the High Court rap, Jammu and Kashmir authorities on Tuesday held a high-level meeting over burning of schools in the valley and came up with a number of decisions, including steps to enhance vigil and a directive to police to speed up the investigation. However, on the same day, a decision to shut some schools too was taken.
As many as 174 schools in the border belt of Jammu district have been closed by the authorities in wake of the Pakistani shelling. “The schools shall remain closed till further orders,” said deputy commissioner of Jammu Simrandeep Singh.
He said the order shall apply to government and private schools in the areas near the IB and LoC and the chief education officer Jammu has been asked to ensure its compliance. Concerned over burning down of schools, the Centre has asked the Mufti government to check such attempts and make efforts for re-opening the schools.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also said to be worried that the closure of schools for such a long period is affecting thousands of students and feels that if schools reopen, it would be a great step towards restoring normalcy in Kashmir, officials said.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, meanwhile, has made a fervent appeal for peace and political dialogue between India and Pakistan to deescalate the “perilously hostile situation prevailing in the region”.
