Schools open in Kashmir; teachers report, students didn't

Teachers reported to work in many schools in Kashmir as restrictions were eased further on Monday but not many students were seen.

Meanwhile, most educational institutions in five sensitive border districts of Jammu reopened after a fortnight on Monday with 'full attendance' as authorities lifted curbs in large parts of the region, officials said.

Officials said the government has made necessary arrangements for opening of 190 primary schools in Srinagar city as security forces remained deployed in most of the Valley.

But all private schools in the city remained shut for the 15th consecutive day as parents were apprehensive about the security situation in view of violent protests over the past two days.

Only Police Public School at Bemina and a few Kendriya Vidyalayas saw a handful of students turning up.

"There is so much uncertainty in the situation that sending kids to school at this stage is out of question," Farooq Ahmad Dar, a parent, said.

Officials in Baramulla district said schools in five towns remained closed. In the rest of the district, schools were opened, they said.

"There is no relaxation in restrictions in Pattan, Palhalan, Singhpora, Baramulla and Sopore towns. Primary schools in the rest of the district are open. We are collecting details about the number of students who have reported at their respective schools," an official said.

A senior Srinagar district official said a few schools on the periphery were opened but in the old city and in civil lines areas, they remained shut due to violence over the past two days.

Authorities had planned to open schools up to primary level and make all government offices functional from Monday.

In Srinagar city, barricades were removed from areas where the situation has remained peaceful since the Centre announced the scrapping of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated it into two union territories on August 5.

Markets in the Valley were shut while public transport remained off roads. The movement of private vehicles in the city increased after restrictions were eased.

In Jammu, educational institutions reopened in the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch and Chenab Valley districts of Ramban, Doda and parts of Kishtwar, the officials said.

The overall security situation remained peaceful throughout the region and educational institutions saw 'full attendance', they said.

Earlier on August 10, the educational institutions in five other districts of the region -- Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Udhampur and Reasi --- had reopened after authorities announced lifting of prohibitory orders.

"All educational institutions across the district, both private and government, including degree colleges and higher secondary schools, resumed classes (on Monday)," deputy commissioner, Rajouri, Aijaz Asad, told PTI.

The situation in the district remained peaceful with markets reopening and traffic plying normally, he added.

Asad said the prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code also stand withdrawn as the law and order situation has been normal. Markets have also opened.

In Poonch district, the officials said barring higher secondary schools and colleges, all educational institutions have reopened and people have resumed their normal activities.

All shops and business establishments are open and traffic is plying normally, they said, adding that the higher secondary schools and colleges are likely to reopen on Tuesday.

Deputy commissioner, Kishtwar, Angrez Singh Rana, said a number of private schools reopened in the district on their own as the law and order situation in the communally sensitive district remained well under control.

"We are officially resuming classwork in all government-run educational institutions from Tuesday. A series of meetings were held with the concerned stakeholders who have extended their support to the district administration in maintaining peace," he said.

The officials said primary, middle and higher secondary schools also reopened across Ramban district, except in Banihal sub-division.
The schools up to Class 10 also reopened in Doda district, they said.

The officials said police and paramilitary personnel remain stationed in the sensitive areas in all the five districts as a precautionary measure.

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