65,000 J&K students write Class X board exam as parents keep vigil from footpaths

Students sit for Board examinations for 10th class at Budgam district (ANI)

SRINAGAR: Around 65,000 students appeared for their Class X board examinations in J&K on Tuesday, braving an atmosphere of uncertainty that was accentuated by the absence of public transport and recurrence of clashes between stone-pelting protesters and security forces at several places.
After the day's paper got over at 3pm, terrorists in Pulwama district fired six to seven rounds at Rashtriya Rifles personnel patrolling a road that leads to an examination centre at Drabgam village.
CRPF inspector general Ravideep Sahi was quick to scotch rumours about the school being the target of the attack. "This wasn't an attack on the exam centre. The firing incident occurred half a kilometre away and the terrorists fled the moment there was retaliatory fire from the patrol party," he said.
In Srinagar, many parents sat on the footpaths outside exam centres waiting for their wards to step out after the three-hour paper. Since no public transport was available, most examinees either walked all the way to their examination centres or travelled by private cars.
The J&K Board of School Education said attendance was "100 per cent" across the 615 examination centres, belying apprehensions of a low turnout when the examination schedule was released earlier this month. Although schools in the Valley reopened more than a month ago, most students have stayed away.
“Given the situation in the Valley, it was hugely encouraging to see examinees arriving at their centres in droves to write the first day's paper," a board official said. "The school education department has deployed flying squads and deputed officials of the rank of magistrates to oversee the preparations and ensure a conducive environment for the students to write their examinations."
Divisional commissioner Baseer Ahmad Khan said he was monitoring the arraRead More – Source