Arsonists Burn Down Schools throughout Kashmir

In the most recent of a string of 27 school burnings that have taken place over the past two months, arsonists set fire to an Anantnag school in southern Kashmir on October 30. In response to the large-scale attacks on the schools, most of which are government- run institutions, the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir requested that the government implement protective policies to safeguard both students and the schools.

Schools have been closed for the last four months as a result of the ongoing unrest and the Kashmiri separatists’ shutdown of the valley. While there were no casualties as a result of the school burnings, India Today reports that the fires reduced seven schools to ashes. The High Court directed the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of remaining schools in the state. The Court further stated that enemies of education would be unmasked and punished with an iron hand. However, authorities currently have limited information regarding the identity of the arsonists, which will likely hinder decisive action.

The Minister of Education, Naeem Akhtar, has accused separatists of perpetrating the attacks, implying that the burning of schools is a ploy to foment further unrest in Kashmir. In response, the separatists distanced themselves from the attacks and accused the government of failing to take sufficient action to protect students, while also maintaining a shutdown that has largely immobilized the education system. The accusations from both the state government and the separatists emphasize both the conflict between the two parties and the struggle involved in implementing effective reforms in Kashmir.

The school closures are not limited to the Anantnag region, but rather extend throughout Kashmir. According to a report by The Hindustan Times, at least one school in each of Kashmir’s ten districts has been burnt or has suffered damage from the fires. The Times of India also describes how parents in the region are particularly concerned about students at the 10+2 level, the equivalent of grade 12, as it is the year in which students take their national professional exams in November. Schools conduct these exams on a fixed calendar and will not postpone the national exams for the students in Kashmir, causing significant concern among students who have been unable to attend school for the past several months. These exams are essential to the students’ professional development and ultimately determine their career opportunities. Students have therefore protested the denial of a postponement.

The current regional unrest threatens the physical safety of the Kashmiri citizens, and the recent arson attacks illustrate how the future success of the citizens is also threatened. The former Chief Minister and National Conference Chief, Omar Abdullah, called the attacks an abhorrent ploy to destroy children’s futures and accused the arsonists of being enemies of enlightenment. Education is highly valued in India and by destroying schools, the attackers are targeting critical resources for the young students. The school burnings in Kashmir mean more than the destruction of a few buildings; they represent the destruction of civilized society.