Zafar Aafaq
Srinagar
After schools in Kashmir valley remained shut for over four months, class 12th students from across Kashmir today appeared in the senior secondary board exams amid heightened security in and around examination centers.
The examination is being held at over thousand centers.
The prevailing situation prevented the schools from functioning according to routine which disturbed the educational session completely. However, government went ahead with its plan to hold the examination within the session despite protests from student community.
The government relaxed the syllabus by 50 % giving a sense of relief to students.
Top officials of Police and Civil administration Sunday evening held a meeting to chalk out the law and order policy for commencement of Examination.
Reports reaching from different regions of the valley said that the first day of examination remained passive. There have been isolated incidents of stone pelting and clashes.
In restive South Kashmir, bearing, a minor incident of stone pelting near exam centre in Pahnu village, the situation remained calm. “The protestors were dispersed off by a posse of forces,” a local scribe told Kashmir Life. There have been no reports of protests or clashes from any other part of the district, the scribe added. The army was deployed along with police and paramilitary personnel around examination centers.
In Yaaripora area of Kulgam District, students left the centre midway after they said there was confusion in the examination paper.
The issue was resolved when District Commissioner, Showkat Aijaz, convinced the students to carry on with their exams.
He said 93% of the students appeared in the exams.
In other parts of South Kashmir, the situation remained normal on the first day of the examination.
In Sopore town, the first day of the examination concluded peacefully. However, in Bomai village near the town, a minor incident of protest was reported outside the centre early morning.
Reports emerging from Kupwara district also said that the examinations were held without any fuss.
In Srinagar, elaborate security arrangements were put in place for the smooth conduct of examinations.
No untoward incident was reported from anywhere.
