By Javed Aziz Khan

PESHAWAR: Suspected militants blew up a girls’ primary school in Tiraee Payan village on the outskirts of the provincial capital on the third day of Eidul Fitr.

A police official said a time device was used in the incident that destroyed the three-room school building. The area is close to Michni and Mathra, two volatile villages where the militants are said to be regrouping. “No casualty was reported in the attack as the school was closed for the Eid holidays,” a cop said. There were also reports that the school was offering co-education.

Dozens of schools, mostly for girls, have been blown up in the city while hundreds were destroyed in rest of the NWFP and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) during the past few years. The number of destroyed schools in Swat alone is more than 200.

The situation had improved to some extent during the recent past after the military operations against the militants in the settled areas and the Fata. However, the fresh attack on educational institutions during Eidul Fitr shattered the hopes of the people, who had taken a sigh of relief after an improvement in the law and order situation.

Scores of girls and boys schools have been bombed in Matani, Badaber, Bazidkhel, Adezai, Daudzai, Mathra, Regi and other parts of rural Peshawar. This has brought down the enrollment in the educational institutions, as parents are scared to send their children, especially daughters, to schools.

“Suspected militants are regaining strength in Matani, Adezai, Mathra, Daudzai and Khazana and a strong action by security forces and police is needed to stop the activities of miscreants, posing a constant threat to the provincial metropolis,” said Ali Zaman, a resident of Warsak Road.

The strategy of forces for taking on the militants and kidnappers is likely to change in the coming days as a major reshuffle is expected in the capital city police force. Several seasoned cops are likely to be posted as SSP (coordination), SPs in rural, Cantt area, city circles as well as SP (headquarters), SP (security) and heads of sub-divisional circles and police stations.
Source: The News
Date:9/24/2009