In response to the directions of J&K High Court, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan Tuesday chaired a high level meeting convened to adopt the measures to be taken to prevent school buildings from fire incidents, besides to ensure smooth conduct of examinations.The meeting was attended by the Inspector General of Police, SJM Gillani, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr Farooq Ahmad Lone, , Director School Education, SSP Srinagar, Joint Director Fire & Emergency Services, Chief Education Officer Srinagar, besides all Deputy Commissioners of the valley through video conference.The Div Com expressed his concern over the burning of schools in the valley and directed for taking preventive measures to safeguard school buildings so that educational setup doesn’t get affected. He impressed upon all the Deputy Commissioners to hold meetings with SSPs, CEOs and ZEOs of their respective jurisdictions and prepare comprehensive plans in the categories of normal, sensitive and hypersensitive ares so that the institutions of learning are saved from such fires.
He directed all the Deputy Commissioners to submit the list of schools falling under their jurisdiction to the IGP and to his office. He directed the CEOs/ZEOs to constitute the committee of teachers, numberdars, chowkidars and contingentpaid employees for keeping vigil to protect school buildings, besides called for involvement of Imaams, and civil society members in the process. He also directed for establishing special control rooms to monitor the process. He said collective efforts are needed to safeguard school buildings so as to save education system in the valley.Speaking on the occasion, IGP said that all the examination centers would be provided adequate security especially during night hours to avoid any untoward incident. He directed all the SSPs to speedup the investigation process of burning incidents of school buildings to identify the culprits involved in such cases. He also directed the police to ensure checking of school buildings while patrolling during night hours.