PAN, March 12, 2013

Newly-built school blown up in Badghis province

About 500 students, including girls, are studying in the school

By Sharafuddin Stanikzai

Unknown assailants blew up a newly-built school building in Qala-i-Naw, the capital of northwestern Badghis province, an official said on Tuesday.

They lobbed a hand-grenade into the building on Monday evening , comprehensively damaging two rooms of the school in Kharistan area, the governor's spokesman, Sharafuddin Majidi, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Blaming the incident on insurgents, he accused the rebels of creating hurdles to the education process in the province. About 500 students, including girls, are studying in the school, he added.

A ninth grade student, Ali Gul, said he saw one portion of their school was damaged as he arrived in the morning. He said text books and furniture were burnt in the fire caused by the explosion. He asked the government to arrest those responsible.

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