Burning of schools in J-K should stop immediately: Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch (HRW), an international non-profit organisation, has said that attacks on educational institutions in Jammu and Kashmir, including the mysterious burning of schools in the valley, should stop immediately.

Human Rights Watch (HRW), an international non-profit organisation, has said that attacks on educational institutions in Jammu and Kashmir, including the mysterious burning of schools in the valley, should stop immediately.

Destroyed books sit in the yard of a partially burned government high school in Goripora, outskirts of Srinagar. (AP)

“The burning of schools, assaults on teachers and students, the occupation of schools by the police and military, and the recruitment of children to become fighters violate the rights of children or thwart their chances to get an education,” a statement by Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director of the body, read.

It added, “Both India and Pakistan should show their commitment to ensuring all students can learn in peace by endorsing the Safe Schools Declaration, an international political commitment that outlines common-sense steps that governments can take to better protect students and schools in such tense situations.”

“Kashmir should be putting out school graduates, not school fires.”

At least 25 schools have been torched in the last three months in Kashmir and leaders across ideologies and party lines as well as civil society have commended it.