Rare Quran copies burn with Held Kashmir’s century old school

By: A. A. Rathor

SRINAGAR, HELD KASHMIR: A suspicious blaze on Monday completely destroyed Indian-Held Kashmir's oldest educational institution, destroying 30,000 rare books on Islam, including some of the world's oldest copies of the Holy Quran.

The 105-year-old Islamia School, covering grades 1-12, turned out many of the Held Kashmir's most prominent and influential people. It also was an architectural treasure with its high arched windows and ceilings of cedar logs.

The loss stunned people who poured into the streets of this city to protest the demise of a treasured institution. Some were so upset they shut down their shops.

According to witnesses the blaze began soon after dawn and quickly consumed the building. Some of the school's 2,500 students first learned of the fire when they showed up for classes.

“We suspect mischief. It doesn't seem to be an accident,” said senior police officer Javed Ahmad.

The school housed one of the oldest and rarest libraries on Islam, with some 30,000 books, including some of the rarest manuscripts of the Quran.

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Pakistanis to mark ‘Martyrs Day’ on TNFJ call

RAWALPINDI: Chief of the Tehreek Nafaz-e-Fiqh-e-Jafariya, Pakistan Agha Syed Hamid Ali Shah Moosavi has announced to observe Martyrs Day throughout the country on July 6 to pay tributes to great praiseworthy scions including Muhammad Hussain Shad who laid their lives for the nation and the country.

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