HELD SRINAGAR/NEW DELHI: More than 125,000 extra soldiers have beendeployed, a security source said, joining around 500,000 already in thenorthern Himalayan region.
Schools reopened in Indian Held Kashmir (IHK) main city on Monday but mostclassrooms were empty as parents kept their children home, fearing unrestover the government’s decision two weeks ago to revoke the region’sautonomy. Thousands of people have been arrested by Indian authorities inoccupied Kashmir as curfew and other restrictions continued for the 16thday on Monday.
Some 190 primary schools were set open in Srinagar in a sign of normalcyreturning to Muslim majority Jammu and Kashmir where authorities started toease restrictions on movement last week. Parents said their children wouldstay home until cellular networks are restored and they can be incontactwith them. “How can we risk the lives of our children?” said Gulzar Ahmad,a father of two children enrolled in a school in the city’s Batamaloodistrict where protests have occurred.
“Troops have arrested minor children in the last two weeks and severalchildren were injured in clashes,” he said. “Our children are safe insidetheir homes. If they go to school who can guarantee their safety?”
Authorities have previously denied reports of mass arrests. Srinagar’s topadministrative officer, Shahid Iqbal Chaudhry, said on Sunday that adequatesecurity would be provided for schools. “I will take responsibility for anyuntoward incident,” he added.