The school-burning spree in Kashmir over the past three months that has seen 27 schools being torched has sent alarm bells ringing. No group has claimed responsibility for the despicable acts nor have the police been able to establish the identity of the arsonists. This has forced the Jammu & Kashmir high court to direct the police and civil administration to ensure protection of schools and bring the perpetrators to justice. With Kashmir being in shutdown mode since the killing of militant Burhan Wani in July, the academic cycle of schools has suffered. But the school burnings escalate things further and represent a direct assault on the future of Kashmiri youth.
In that sense, the cases of arson are reminiscent of the Taliban¡¯s barbaric assault on girls¡¯ schools in Pakistan¡¯s Swat Valley in the 2007-09 period or attacks on Afghan schools since. Teenaged activist Malala Yousafzai had documented the Taliban¡¯s ban on girls¡¯ education. She was later shot by the extremists but survived and went on to become a strong voice for education across the globe. Similarly, all sections of Kashmir must stand up to criminal elements who are targeting schools. The latter is part of a nefarious design to keep children on the streets, prevent normalcy from returning to the Valley and destroy the economic prospects of the state.
Preventing children from going to school would make it easier for separatists and militant groups to funnel Kashmiri youth into militancy. Besides, it¡¯s a well-known fact that children and family members of separatist leaders are often sent abroad or to other parts of India to obtain quality education. The J&K administration must act to protect schools, and the double standard of separatists claiming to represent the interests of the Kashmiri people must be thoroughly exposed.
The Article first Appeared In TOI
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