APD | India: Schools reopen in Kashmir to low attendance

By APD writer Rishika Chauhan

New Delhi, Aug. 20 (APD) - Two weeks after curfew was imposed in Kashmir, primary schools reopened on Monday though the attendance remained low.

About 190 primary schools reopened in Srinagar, while many schools started functioning again in other parts of Kashmir. However, nearly all schools followed special security measures.

The main gates of reputed schools like Tyndale Biscoe School in Srinagar were shut and side entrances were opened keeping security reasons in mind. Meanwhile, the staff also could not come to school in big numbers.

Only, 30 to 50 % of the school staff was present in Srinagar schools. The children who attended school faced problems.

According to reports, at many places school buses were not functioning. The security situation in Kashmir also remained uncertain and unsafe.

Middle schools are expected to reopen on Wednesday. The authorities informed that they are gradually cutting the size of the army troops stationed there to control any security situation that might arise.

The security restrictions and curfew were imposed by the central government on August 5, after Article 370, that granted the former province special status was revoked.

Meanwhile, the two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh will come into being on October 31. Currently, new laws are being drafted to enable the next elections in Kashmir.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)