J-K: School set ablaze in Shopian

Last week, some miscreants tried to set ablaze a government school building, designated as a polling station.

In a latest attempt to disrupt peace and election process in Kashmir, a school was set ablaze near Shopian on Tuesday ahead of the the Anantnag bypoll.

The incident took place at south Kashmir's Padarpora, 12 kms from Shopian, on Monday night by "unidentified persons".

Last week, some miscreants tried to set ablaze a government school building, designated as a polling station, in Narbal area of Budgam district.

After Srinagar recorded its worst turnout of 6 per cent in the Lok Sabha by-elections on Sunday, violence broke out in Pulwama. A polling booth at the Government High School in Arihal, Pulwama, was set blaze ahead of the by-poll for the Anantnag parliamentary seat.

Following the escalation of violence, internet services have been suspended in the Kashmir Valley till the by-polls are held on April 12. Kashmir University exams too have been postponed and a new date is yet to be announced.

This is not the first time school buildings have been attacked in the Valley. Soon after militancy began in 1989, hundreds of schools and colleges had been set on fire by unidentified people. They were reconstructed over the years.

OneIndia News