The Legitimate Desk: Arson
Srinagar: A day after a government school was gutted in a mysterious blaze in Kupwara district, authorities have ordered presence of night watchmen in all educational institutions of the north Kashmir district.
“All Heads of the institutions of this district are put under strict instructions to ensure the presence of night chowkidars in their institutions.
Utilize the services of class 4th employees, CPWs or even cooks wherever necessary. Safety of schools will be their responsibility.
When GNS put across the concern of Chowkidars that they are being paid only rupees 200 per month and some other employees with hefty shall be deputed for the duty, the Chief Education Officer (CEO) Mohammad Shafi War said that duty is duty and chowkidars should discharge the duty.
The regularization of the chowkidars is in pipeline and it is the duty of one and all to protect the educational institutions and the chowkidars as such shall discharge duty as mandated by their profession.
The order comes amid four incidents of fire gutting three panchayat ghars and a school in Kupwara during the ongoing panchayat polls in last four days.
Pertinently, a government school building was damaged in a blaze in Hatmulla area of the northern district on Sunday evening.
A senior police officer said police was investigating the matter to ascertain those behind the arson incidents. (GNS)
