Onus on PDP-BJP regime to probe burning of J-K schools, says union minister

The Centre on Tuesday put the onus for probing the burning of schools in Jammu and Kashmir on the PDP-BJP state regime.

Minister of State for Human Resource Development Upendra Kushwah told ANI, "The state government has to look into this matter; they have to maintain the law and order. We hope that they will take action against those indulging in such incidents."

Kushwah said the Centre will only interfere if required.

On Sunday, a government school was set on fire by unidentified people in Anantnag district in Jammu and Kashmir. This is the third school to be burnt in the state amongst the over 20 where arson has been reported in the last two months.

A Jawahar Navodya Vidyalaya school in Aishmuqam was also set on fire on Saturday night.

Officials said the cause of fire in both incidents has not been ascertained yet.

Schools in Kashmir valley have been closed due to a shutdown call by separatist groups. Dozens of schools are also still occupied by security forces brought here to contain the unrest, which began after the 22-year-old Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani was killed on July 8.

So far, the efforts to reopen schools have failed as both government and separatist groups are accusing each other of playing politics over education. The separatists have been saying that children are not safe outside homes because most of the people killed and injured during unrest were students.