Sameer Ahmad

Anantnag Sep 26: Thieves have stolen hundreds of solar batteries from various government schools in District Anantnag.

According to official sources, 310 solar panel batteries worth lakhs have been stolen from different government schools in Anantnag since 2022.

Recently, on 4th September 2024, thieves targeted a government high school in Batengoo, Anantnag, stealing 16 batteries. In total, thieves have struck at least 22 government schools, including 15 high schools, 4 higher secondary schools, and 3 middle schools, since 2022.

These solar panels were provided under the government’s Samagra Shiksha (SS) scheme through the Jammu and Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA) to upgrade the basic infrastructure of government schools.

In 2022, thieves struck 7 government schools, stealing at least 82 batteries. In 2023, 160 batteries were stolen from 10 government schools, and in 2024, 68 batteries have been stolen from 5 government schools so far.

The solar panels have been installed in 162 government schools in District Anantnag since 2018. Of these, 22 schools have been targeted by thieves since 2022, resulting in the loss of batteries worth lakhs.

Speaking to the Daily Uqab, an official in the Chief Education Officer’s (CEO) department, who wished to remain anonymous, stated, “We have already lodged FIRs at the concerned police stations regarding the theft cases in several government schools in District Anantnag. We request the police to look into the matter and arrest the culprits responsible for the theft of these batteries.”